Quercus bicolor Willd.
Swamp white oak
Fagaceae (Beech Family)
Swamp white oak is a large, wide, round-topped, deciduous tree. Its leaves, with their silvery undersides, are typical of those of white oak, yet swamp white oak leaves lack deeply cut lobes. Tree grows to 100 feet (30.5 m) with an irregular crown. Bark dark gray, deep furrows forming scaly or flat-ridges. Twigs smooth, light brown twigs; buds light orangish-brown, smooth, ovoid and blunt. Leaves petiole from 3/8 - 1 inch (10 - 25 mm) long; leaves are narrowly elliptical to obovate, varies up to 7 inches (178 mm) long and 4 3?8 inches (111 mm) wide; base cuneate to acute, rounded apex; margin with 10 - 20 lobes with shallow sinuses, distal half of blade may have teeth; glossy dark green above with white velvety pubescence beneath. Fall color is golden-brown to russet-red.
The scientific name refers to the difference in coloration between upper and lower leaf surface. The two largest known specimens grow in Highland County, Virginia, and Washington County, Ohio.
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Tree Leaf Retention: Deciduous Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Leaf Complexity: Simple Leaf Shape: Elliptic ,
Obovate Leaf Venation: Pinnate Leaf Margin: Lobed
Leaf Base: Cuneate Breeding System: Flowers
Unisexual ,
Monoecious Inflorescence: Spike ,
Catkin Fruit Type: Nut Size Notes: Height to 80 feet.
Leaf: Glossy dark green above with white velvety pubescence beneath.
Autumn Foliage: yes
Flower: Male catkins 2-4 inches long.
Fruit: Acorns annual; 1 - 2 acorns on
peduncle up to 4 inches (101 mm) long; grayish-green cup with scales covered with fine gray tomentum, cup rim often has spinose bristles, cup covers 1/2 to 3/4 of the nut;
oblong or ovoid, light brown
nut, up to 1 1/4 inches
Size Class: 72-100 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Bloom Notes: Male flowers yellow-green, females green to red.
Distribution
USA: AL , CT , DE , IL , IN , IA , KY , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MO , NH , NJ , NY , NC , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VT , VA , WV , WI , DC
Canada: ON Native Distribution: Minnesota south to Nebraska, east to North Carolina, and north to Quebec and Maine.
Native Habitat: Moist woods; bottomlands; stream edges and poorly-drained mineral soils.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Poorly drained, heavy or fine loams or clays.
Conditions Comments: This is one of the faster growing oaks and appears to be more tolerant than similar oaks to landscape use. Swamp white is susceptible to iron chlorosis and prefers somewhat acidic soils.
Benefit
Use Wildlife: Attracts songbirds, ground birds, water birds and mammals.
Use Food: Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out. Gather nuts during the fall from September to October. Only gather the ripe tan-to-brown acorns, rather than the unripe green ones. To remove bitterness, shell the brown, ripe acorns and remove any corky skin layers, dice the meat, and boil the chunks in water from 15 to 30 minutes until the water turns brown. Then pour off the water and repeat the process until the water clears, indicating that the tannic acid has been removed. During the last boiling, salt water can be added; then the acorns can be deep fried or mixed in a soup. Finely chopped
acorn meats can be added to bread doughs and muffin batters.
Use Medicinal: The Iroquois peoples used this oak as medicine.
Use Other: Swamp white oak produces a hard wood that has been used for construction, cabinet making, boat building, railroad ties, fencing, and cooperage.
Warning: Acorns (seeds of nuts) and young leaves. Low toxicity if eaten. Symptoms include stomach pain, constipation and later bloody diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Last Update: 2011-09-25
