Swamp White Oak

Quercus bicolor (Fagaceae) is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America from Quebec to Minnesota and south to Georgia and Arkansas. It grows to about 75 feet tall with a broad, rounded crown and distinctive bicolored leaves: dark green above with pale, silvery-white felt beneath. The bark becomes deeply furrowed and shaggy with age.

Swamp white oak grows in full sun on moist to wet, acidic soils (pH 4.5 to 8.5) and tolerates seasonal flooding, clay, and poorly drained sites. It is one of the most adaptable oaks for wet conditions. Drought tolerance is moderate once established. Fall color is yellow to bronze. The acorns are among the sweetest of the white oaks and are important wildlife food. Hardy in Zones 4a to 8b.