Quercus phellos
Willow Oak
New York to Florida, west to Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas
Gracefully pyramidal becoming broadly oval. Medium to fast growth rate.
Moist, well-drained, acid soils in full sun or light shade.
Willow oak is a grand tree for a large landscape with both notable texture and form. It works well as a street tree or highway planting. Transplanting is best done in the winter when the tree is dormant. Easily transplanted fibrous root system.
Light to bright green in spring; dark green in summer. Alternate, simple, lance-shaped, without lobes or teeth; 2 to 5.5 inches long x .25 to 1 inch wide. No autumn color.
Pin-like twigs with sharp buds, chestnut-brown color.
Shallowly ridged and furrowed bark, gray-brown color.
Nut (acorn) .5 inches long or less, involucre (cup) small and saucerlike. Brown with alternating black bands.
Use firm cuttings after the first flush of growth has hardened in the spring. Treat with 10,000 KIBA-quick dip, 2 perlite:1 peat, mist. Should root in around 10 weeks.
Ascendor (R) ('QPSTJ') - Upswept branches, dense canopy, yellow fall color.
Hightower (R) ('QPSTA') - Lustrous dark green leaves, good mite resistance.
Wynstar (R) ('QPMTF') - Uniform habit, dark green leaves, russet-orange color in fall.