Quercus phellos
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus FEL-ohs
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Willow Oak is a deciduous tree in the beech family that is native to eastern and central USA. It may grow 50 to 80 feet tall but can reach up to 100 feet tall and is long-lived. In NC it can be found in all areas of the state. It has a nice balanced rounded form that has made it a popular tree in the southeast USA. Willow Oak is fast-growing for an oak and starts producing acorns at age 15-20 years. This tree is a high-value wildlife tree for birds and mammals.
Willow Oak is easy to grow in acidic, average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. It is adaptable to a variety of soil types. It is utilized as a shade tree in commercial establishments, parks, golf courses, large yards and as a street tree.
Fairly disease and pest resistant. Root rot, borers, trunk canker and orange-striped oakworm are potential problems. Chlorosis due to iron-deficiency occurs on high pH soil.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves willow-like with bristle tip
- Leaf pubescence below in axillary tufts of hairs
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'High Tower'
- 'High Tower'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'High Tower'
- 'High Tower'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- phellos
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA. Found in all southeastern states; starting from eastern Texas towards the east coast, south to northern Florida and stopping northward at southern New Jersey.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It is a host plant for the Banded Hairstreak, Edward's Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, White-M Hairstreak, Horace's Duskywing, Juvenal's Duskywing butterflies and many moths. Its acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, songbirds, ducks, small mammals, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, quail and black bears.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The 1/2 inch long rounded fruits are acorns with a bowl-like cap that is striated with brown and black bands. Acorns are come singly or in pairs. Involucral bracts in a shallow cup, imbricated. Displays from September to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Yellowish-green male flowers as long pendulous catkins. Female flowers in short spikes. Blooms from March to April.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 4-5 inch long green leaves are 1 inch wide and willow-like. Bristle tipped at the apex. Fall color is non-showy yellow-brown to red-brown. Leaves are simple, alternate, slender, smooth-edged and light green and shiny above while paler below with visible venation. Leaves are alternate, simple, oblong-lanceolate, acute and bristle tipped, rotund to subcuneate, entire, lower surface with conspicuous midrib and inconspicuous lateral veins with axillary tufts of hairs.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray-brown with shallow ridges and furrows. Bark is rough and divided into narrow ridges as the tree ages.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Branches and larger twigs are light gray to medium gray and relatively smooth, while small twigs are pale brown and smooth with scattered white lenticels. Buds are ovoid, 1/4" long, sharp-pointed, with imbricate scales, and brown in color.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Pollution
- Salt
- Wet Soil
