The tree grows in water-saturated soil in its natural habitat, hence its name.
However, this is not a prerequisite.
Swamp white oak also grows well in well-drained soil or soil with occasional flooding and saturation.
Dan Keck / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0
Water
While swamp oak prefers consistent moisture, it can withstand dry periods.
It has dark green leaves with gray to white downy undersides.
The twigs are green and lustrous, becoming light orange colored or brown by the first winter.
A distinguishing feature is their acorn fruits that grow on thin stalks up to four inches long.
Prune for clearance of vehicle or pedestrian traffic.
In light of this, it’s advisable to purchase a seedling or young tree from a nursery.
Swamp white oaks in containers can be planted any time between spring and fall.
The choice of acorn is essential.
Do not use any acorns that are cracked or have holes.
Soak the acorns in water for 24 hours.
Discard floating acorns, which are nonviable.
Leaf blister, a fungal disease that looks like little bumps on the leaves, can defoliate a tree.
This can occur suddenly even to a mature tree after a new structure has been erected nearby.
To avoid this condition, do not plant a swamp white oak near building structures.
Swamp white oaks can grow up to one to two feet per year.
Swamp white oak and white oak are different species but both trees come from the Fagaceae family.
White oak grows taller and lives longer than swamp white oak.
White oak trees can grow 100 feet tall and live 500 years.
while swamp white oak reaches 70 feet and lives 300 years.
Swamp white oaks can live for over 300 years.
It’s a beautiful shade tree.
Gilman, Edward F., and Dennis G. Watson.
“Quercus Bicolor Swamp White Oak”.Department Of Agriculture US Forest Service, 1994, http://hort.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/quebica.pdf.
