Photo by: Henri-Joseph Redouté, public domain

Nomenclature

Common Name:

willow oak

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Quercus phellos

Family:

Fagaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

60(40) -75 ft tall by 40-50 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms in spring.

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance, Fall Color

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shade tree. The root system is fibrous making it suitable for situations where the roots may get somewhat abused such as street plantings and parking lot islands.

Considerations:

Fallen/falling acorns may be an issue.

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Clay, Loam

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Host plant for the banded hairstreak, Edward's hairstreak, gray hairstreak, white-M hairstreak, Horace's duskywing, Juvenal's duskywing butterflies and many moths.

Acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, songbirds, ducks, small mammals, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, quail and black bears





Provides cover and nesting areas for birds and squirrels

Native Habitats:

Floodplains, hardwood swamp borders.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

The range of this tree barely makes it into north Florida. It is much more common in the remainder of the southeast.