Swamp White Oak Tree (Quercus Bicolor) – 1 Gallon Pot

Other Common Names: Bicolor Oak

 As its name suggests, the Swamp White Oak is a North American native tree that prefers life on the moist side. A durable and long lived tree to 300 years or more, it is excellent for planting along or near lakes, swamps, creeks, streams, rivers, low-lying areas, and other moist and sunny areas. That said, it is surprisingly tolerant to drought when established. It’s a moderate to fast grower adding 12 to 24 inches in height per year, depending on soil moisture. It will reach 50 to 60 feet tall and equally as wide at maturity, which makes it a great choice for a shade tree or in groupings or groves where shade is desired. The 3 to 7 inch long shallow-lobed leaves with dentate teeth are two-toned in color with the glossy upper half medium green to dark green and the undersides tomentose with a silvery white appearance. It is also admired for its think and furrowed bark. Insignificant flowers occur in the spring in the form of catkins and short spikes followed by a standard crop of brown acorns appearing every fall season with a heavy crop every few years. Many wildlife species will appreciate the nuts. The nuts of swamp white oak are edible and tasty but must be processed properly.

The wildlife benefits of the Swamp White Oak are numerous. Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see moths and butterflies such as Imperial Moth, Banded Hairstreak, Edward’s Hairstreak, Gray Hairstreak, White-M Hairstreak, Horace’s Duskywing and Juvenal’s Duskywing. The Acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, blue jays, small mammals, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and black bear.

Note: Unprocessed, raw acorns can be potentially toxic due to the high tannin content. However, acorns are worth the processing steps as they are a low-calorie tasty and healthy treat.