Willow Oak

Quercus phellos

Size: 3 & 5 Gallon Availability

Tree
Max size: 75’ tall x 50’ wide
Average size: 50′ tall x 40′ wide

Very Moist, Usually Moist, Moist to Dry
Clay, Loam, Sand
Sun, Part Shade
Tolerant of Moderate Salt Spray

This deciduous tree has a beautiful orange fall color and inconspicuous spring blooms. It starts acorn production when it is 15-20 years old, and they mature in the fall. The acorns are edible as long as you process them correctly. The acorns are also eaten by many birds and mammals, including ducks, wild turkeys, deer, quail, and black bears. It is also 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. It makes for a great shade tree and has roots that can handle high traffic areas.

The bark of the oak can be used to make dyes and paints. The barks and galls have also long been used to create a permanent ink. Oak medicines are incredibly varied; they contain tannin, which has been shown to be antiviral, antiseptic, and antitumor; various Indigenous practices worldwide have ascribed medicinal uses to various parts of the tree.