Swamp White Oak
Quercus bicolor
Family: Fagaceae
Leaf Type: Deciduous
Mature Height: ~21 m (~70 ft)
Fall Color: Yellow-brown, orange-gold
Native Range: Swamp white oaks are most commonly found throughout parts of the Midwest and some of the Northeast. They are typically found near water and places that occasionally flood.
Features
Swamp white oaks are members of the beech family of trees, which includes beeches, chestnuts, and oaks. They are categorized as white oaks because their leaves have rounded lobes without bristles. The leaves of the swamp white oak have five to seven shallow lobes along the leaf edge. The top of the leaf is dark green with a much lighter, whitish underside that gives the trees their name. As with all oaks, the fruit of the swamp white oak is an acorn. The acorns are about an inch long and oblong. The cup has a slightly fringed edge. The acorns are on long, thin stalks. We recommend not sampling the fruits & nuts of the trees and plants here at Adventure Science Center. Swamp white oaks have gray bark that is in strips. As the tree gets older, the bark gets rougher and more furrowed.
Fun Facts
● Bicolor in the scientific name is a reference to the contrast between the lower and upper leaf surfaces.
● Swamp white oaks are important for the lumber industry for timber and flooring.
Did you know that trees provide homes for animals, keep us cool and clean our air? Click here to learn more about the benefits that trees provide to us and our world.