Native Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)

Quercus phellos aka Willow Oak, Peach Oak, Water Oak, Swamp Chestnut Oak is a medium to large, fast-growing, deciduous tree in the  red oak group. It is native to a broad area in the eastern, southeastern and south-central United States.  Willow oak is typically found in the woods bordering swamps, streams, or canals.

This oak is easy to grow in acidic, average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. It is adaptable to a variety of soil types including clay soils. It is tolerant of urban pollution. It has a fibrous root system and transplants well.

Willow Oak has an oval to rounded crown. It can reach up to 100 feet tall and is long-lived. It has a nice balanced, rounded form and fine texture that has made it a popular shade tree for the landscape.  Beautiful fall foliage.  Willow oak starts producing acorns at the age of 15 to 20 years.

Parts of Willow Oak are both edible and medicinal.  This tree is a high-value wildlife tree for birds and mammals.  It is a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis), as well as numerous butterflies, including Banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Edward’s hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), White-m hairstreak (Parrhasius malbum), Horace’s duskywing (Erynnis horatius), and Juvenalis duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis).

Sun to Part Shade
40-75 ft tall – 25-50 ft wide
Clay, loam sand, acid to neutral, Good drainage, moist occasionally dry or wet
Zones 5-9

NY Endangered

Limited self pollination,  best with 2 or more trees for cross pollination and acorn production.  

12-18 inches tall + roots, Bare-root

Native ~ Edible ~ Medicinal ~ Host