Growing The English Oak

Size and Appearance

The English Oak is a large deciduous tree that grows 12 to 16 inches a year, eventually reaching as much as 70 feet in height and spread. The largest trees in the country are almost 100 feet tall and wide. Given its potential 500-year life, don’t plant within 35 feet of your home, any other buildings, roads, property boundaries, or beneath overhead wires. Consider if your property has room for a tree of that size, or grow it for a few years in a large pot, or as a bonsai tree if you don’t – it makes a great bonsai. Younger trees are more upright, but in time it becomes more spreading, with a wide, rounded crown and spreading semi-horizontal branches. The main trunk becomes massive, covered with dark-gray to near-black rugged bark, cracked and broken like alligator hide.

The thickish leaves are 2 to 5 inches long, divided into 5 or 7 shallow lobes – the classic ‘oak leaf’ shape. They are bright green in spring, turning dark-green to blue-green in summer, and yellow-green in fall. Leaves are slow to fall, and can persist well into winter. In spring established trees produce greenish-yellow catkins, and develop clusters of inch-long acorns. Branches of brown leaves and acorns make attractive winter decorations indoors, and as wreaths. The acorns are bitter, and need treatment to be made into an edible flour, but squirrels, deer, turkeys and other wildlife will eat them.

Using English Oak in Your Garden

The English Oak is a wonderful specimen tree for planting on a large lawn, or in open fields, at the edges of woodlands, and anywhere there is room. Consider it as a great choice for a commemorative planting for a birth, wedding, or to honor a loved one. Special occasions worth remembering deserve trees with long memories.

Hardiness

The English Oak is as hardy as any oak available, and more hardy than most. It grows well in zone 4 and through all warmer areas into zone 8. In the hot south-east our native oaks may be more suitable – see our current selection.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Plant your new English Oak in a sunny place, or in partial shade where it will soon grow into the sun. Plant it in any well-drained soil, and this tree is very superior to other oaks for planting on alkaline soils, and even on limestone. It also grows in acid soils just fine. Once established it has good drought tolerance, and it is a good choice for planting in areas with low rainfall.

Maintenance and Pruning

Although the English Oak is renowned for the vast number of insect species it supports, almost all of these are specialized, do little or no damage, and are not pests. In hot, humid areas harmless powdery mildew may grow on the leaves in summer, but otherwise it is normally disease-free. The natural habit of this tree is to grow with low branches radiating outwards, so if you want a taller trunk, keep one central stem growing and remove lower branches early, to prevent scarring.

History and Origin of English Oak

English Oak, Quercus robur, grows naturally all the way from Ireland and Britain to the Caucasus mountain in Georgia. It was once the dominant tree in vast, ancient forests that covered almost all of Britain and Europe. Remnants of these forests persist in Hungary and Poland, but ancient trees can be seen everywhere, especially in Britain, where they are revered. For centuries the wood was used for ship-building (which is why there are so few forests left) and it is still valued for house-building, paneling, floors and furniture.

Buying the English Oak at the Tree Center

If you have a sense of romance and mystery, then the English Oak is for you. If you love beautiful trees and want to leave a legacy to the middle of this millennium, then plant one. The special magic of this tree will soon make you love yours, but order now, because our stock is low, and this majestic tree is always in high demand.

Growing The Swamp Chestnut Oak

Size and Appearance

The Swamp Chestnut Oak is a handsome deciduous tree native to America, which grows at about 2 feet a year, reaching as much as 30 feet in a decade under good growing conditions. Wild trees are among our largest, with some reaching 140 feet tall, but in garden situations you can expect a mature height of around 70 feet, with at least a 50 foot spread. Choose the planting spot carefully and be sure you have enough room. Plant at least 25 feet from your home and other structures or property lines, and don’t plant beneath overhead cables and wires. This is a tree for larger properties, with a long potential life of several hundred years. It has an upright, oval form when young, becoming broader and more rounded with age. The trunk develops to a massive diameter, with gray to gray-brown bark with relatively shallow grooves separating plates of scaly bark.

The leathery leaves are broad ovals, often wider in the upper half, and they are bright green in spring, becoming dark green and glossy, with grayish, softly hairy undersides. They are usually 4 to 8 inches long, but can be larger. The edges are undulating, without the deep lobes we usually expect on an oak tree. In fall they turn bronzy-yellow and rusty-red, coloring late in the season and often staying on the tree well into the winter.

Once trees are 20 to 25 years old they begin to flower, with greenish and reddish catkins in early spring. These develop into 1-inch acorns with a rough cap covering about half the seed. Unusually, the acorns are sweet and tasty, and can be eaten without any treatment to remove bitterness. Wildlife loves them too, and cows learn they are sweet and seek them out, giving this tree an alternative name of cow oak.

Using Swamp Chestnut Oak in Your Garden

With its rapid growth this is a perfect choice for a large lawn, and will develop into a majestic, beautiful specimen throwing a large area of shade. It can also be used in more natural settings, on slopes and around woods, beside water – where it thrives – and to enrich existing natural woodlands and wetlands.

Hardiness

Although only found growing wild in the south, the Swamp Chestnut Oak has good cold resistance, and grows well in zone 5. It succeeds in all warmer areas too, growing in the heat and humidity of the south-east well into zone 9.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Swamp Chestnut Oak grows best in full sun, although a young tree will handle the shade of surrounding trees while it grows into the light. Plant it in almost any soil that isn’t excessively dry, and preferably acidic or neutral. This tree is an excellent choice for wetter ground and grows well even in areas that are frequently flooded, such as along river banks and beside lakes.

Maintenance and Pruning

You won’t normally have any pest or disease problems with the Swamp Chestnut Oak, which is easy to grow and reliable. It is best to prune enough to keep a single central leading stem growing upwards for as long as possible, to make a strong tree more resistant to storm damage. Remove lower branches early to develop a high trunk if you want that. Removing large limbs later will leave scars on the trunk that may never heal over.

History and Origin of Swamp Chestnut Oak

Swamp Chestnut Oak, Quercus michauxii, grows naturally throughout the east, from New Jersey to Florida and westward through Missouri into Texas. It is usually found in moist areas along rivers, on floodplains, in wetlands and at the bottom of ravines. It was named by Thomas Nuttall, an English botanist who explored and named plants across large parts of North America in the early 19th century. The name is in honor of the French botanist André Michaux, who, among other works, wrote a book on American Oaks in 1801. Being French, this means the name of this tree should be pronounced without the ‘x’, as ‘mi-show-e-i’.

Buying the Swamp Chestnut Oak at the Tree Center

The Swamp Chestnut Oak is highly regarded as one of the most majestic and beautiful of our native oak trees. Yet it is rarely offered. Our trees are grown from seed, so they preserve the natural diversity of the species. Take this opportunity to grow something special and almost certainly not in your neighborhood. Order now, though, as we only have a limited stock and trees of this rarity and quality sell out fast.

Growing The Overcup Oak

Size and Appearance

The Overcup Oak is an attractive deciduous tree with dark green, leathery leaves that turn rich browns in fall, It has a handsome rough trunk of red, gray and brown, and the acorns it produces are valuable for all wildlife, and help the local ecology. It is relatively slow-growing, taking 25 to 30 years to reach a mature state. Wild trees can reach 100 feet tall in time, but in gardens 30 to 40 feet tall and wide is more likely. Long-lived, trees have been recorded at 400 years old, and still growing. It has a rounded crown and a clear central trunk, with rough-textured bark that is attractive, with reddish tones and gray-brown coloring, making a good feature year-round. The limbs grow more upwards than horizontal, so it doesn’t produce the drooping branches that can cause clearance issues with some oaks.

The leathery leaves are deep green, 6 to 8 inches long, with deep lobes along the side and a broader tip area, giving a shape like a lyre – hence the botanical name. In fall they turn rich browns and hang on the trees into early winter. Older trees produce distinctive acorns, with a rough cup that covers most of the smooth seed part of the acorn. This extra covering makes them float, a unique distribution method for this species. These are a valuable and important food for small mammals, squirrels, possums, and wild turkeys. Deer also eat them, and the tree is an important habitat for a variety of moths and butterflies.

Using Overcup Oak in Your Garden

Too slow for a lawn shade tree, this is a perfect commemorative tree to plant for special occasions, like a birth, a marriage or a coming of age. If you have an interest in conservation and ecology, then planting an important native tree like this one is a great thing to do. Plant on a large lawn, on the margins of a woodland, or in clearings in existing woods, to enrich the environment. Use it for woodland restoration, along with other native trees and shrubs.

Hardiness

The Overcup Oak grows in all warm to hot zones, from zone 6 to zone 9. It tolerates heat and humidity well.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Overcup Oak is a tree that will thrive in full sun, but also in partial shade, allowing it to grow up through existing trees and large shrubs. It grows in most soils, from sand to clay, and in acidic, neutral and slightly alkaline soils too. It enjoys well-drained soil, but also tolerates wet conditions and areas that are periodically flooded. As well, it is extremely drought and heat tolerant, so it will grow well in ordinary to dry conditions too, even in hot, demanding regions. It also grows well in poor urban soils, where there is sufficient room for it to mature, and can be a valuable part of the urban forest.

Maintenance and Pruning

Pests and diseases are normally not problems for the Overcup Oak, and its root system is not invasive or destructive. Deer will eat the acorns, but not the tree. It needs little attention once established, but we suggest some formative pruning during its early life. Remove or shorten side-branches as needed to keep a single central leading stem for as long as possible. This makes a sturdier tree less likely to be damaged by storms. If you want a tall trunk, remove lower branches while they are thin, so that the trunk is smooth and free of scars.

History and Origin of Overcup Oak

Overcup Oak, Quercus lyrata, is a tree native to most of central and eastern America, from New Jersey to Texas and north to Illinois. It grows mostly on wet clays, in swamps, wetlands and floodplains. It can survive for up to 2 seasons partially submerged by flood waters. It was ‘discovered’ and named by the British-American botanist Thomas Walter, who wrote a flora of Carolina in 1788. It was the first book on American plants to use the relatively new binomial system of Linnaeus still in use today.

Buying the Overcup Oak at the Tree Center

The Overcup Oak is only produced by a small number of growers, so it is rarely offered for sale. Take advantage of our efforts to find some excellent young trees, and plant something really special. We have limited stock, and given its rarity we don’t expect them to be on our farm for long – order now.

Growing Nuttall’s Oak

Size and Appearance

Nuttall’s Oak is a large deciduous tree, fast growing, adding 2 or 3 feet a year when young. After 10 years it will be 30 feet tall, ultimately reaching about 75 feet, with a potential spread of up to 50 feet. It has a broad, rounded crown, with branches spreading outwards. Choose your planting spot carefully, never planting beneath power lines and overhead wires, or within 25 feet of a building, wall or property line. Avoid planting over underground services, or near a swimming pool. This tree has an upright trunk, with gray-brown bark with shallow ridges and furrows, becoming darker gray as it matures, and developing deep, scaly ridges. Young trees are pyramidal, becoming more spreading and rounded as they develop.

The leaves are up to 9 inches long and 5 inches wide, and lustrous dark green, with between 5 and 9 deep, narrow lobes on each side, creating a classic ‘oak leaf’ look. In spring, especially if the season is cold, new leaves can be red to purple, quickly turning green. In all but the hottest zones fall color is reliable and attractive, with rich yellow-orange and red tones. Older trees develop acorns about 1-inch long.

Using Nuttall’s Oak in Your Garden

This tree is a terrific choice for a shade tree, growing rapidly and soon making a real statement in your garden. It is especially useful if you have wetter soil. It grows well in urban areas too, so it’s a good choice for a larger city garden – make sure you do have enough room for its mature size, as removing a large tree from a small location is a great loss, and expensive too. Since it is a native tree, Nuttall’s Oak is also a perfect choice for planting along the edge of woodlands, or improving the variety of trees in an existing wooded area.

Hardiness

Nuttall’s Oak is a tree for warm and hot parts of the country, completely hardy from zone 6 to zone 9, and also hardy in warmer parts of zone 5. It tolerates heat and humidity well.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Plant Nuttall’s Oak in full sun, or in a location where it will quickly grow into full sun. It grows in a wide range of soils, from acidic to alkaline, including heavy, wet clays. It prefers moist, well-drained soils but is also very drought resistant, once established. As well it will grow in wet soils and quickly recovers from periods of flooding. Not resistant to salt-spray or brackish water.

Maintenance and Pruning

This tree rarely suffers from either serious pests or significant diseases. It is worthwhile doing some formative pruning while the tree is young. Keep one central leading stem growing upwards, rather than allowing multiple-main branches to develop. The mature tree will be more attractive and stronger that way, even if it leaves the young tree looking thin and open for a year or two. If you want a taller trunk, remove lower branches gradually, while they are still thin, so that the trunk becomes clean and free of scars.

History and Origin of Nuttall’s Oak

Nuttall’s Oak, Quercus texana, is also called Texas oak. For a very long time it was called Quercus nuttallii, and it’s still known by that name with many nurserymen. The change of name was confusing, as there already was a different tree called Quercus texana, which is the Texas red oak. That tree is now called Quercus buckleyi.

Thomas Nuttall was an English botanist who explored and collected extensively in North America in the first half of the 19th century. He covered many areas first visited by Lewis & Clark, re-discovering plants they had found, and finding many new ones as well. His oak is found in a limited area, mostly in the lower Mississippi River Valley, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. There are also scattered populations over a larger part of the east and south.

Buying Nuttall’s Oak at the Tree Center

We love being able to offer our clients more unusual plants – especially outstanding native trees like Nuttall’s Oak. These are hard to source, and always in short supply, so order yours now, sit back, and watch it grow. Seeing a tree develop before your eyes is a marvelous experience, but you need to order right away to enjoy it.

Growing the Coconino Western Oak

Size and Appearance

The Coconino Western Oak is a shrubby small tree that can in time reach 20 feet tall with a spread of 10 to 15 feet. With a little trimming it can be made into a multi-stem tree with a spreading, open crown, or kept more bushy and lower. The bark is gray-brown, darker on older branches, where it begins to split and flake into long strips in an attractive, rugged fashion. Younger stems are lighter pale brown, with a slightly ‘fuzzy’ texture. The leaves are small, no more than 2 ½ inches long, and mostly smaller. They are oval and leathery, with 5 to 7 spine-tipped lobes along each edge, and a pale-brown central vein. The color is a silvery blue-green, with a matt, slightly rough texture and a furry underside. All these are adaptations to conserve water and prevent being eaten. Trees will reveal their oak nature by producing small acorns, only ½ inch long, with a small, scaly cup holding their base. This tree has proven to be fully evergreen wherever it can be grown.

Using the Coconino Western Oak in Your Garden

This is a perfect choice for a water-wise garden anywhere in the country, including difficult areas in the west, with extreme dryness and heat. Grow it as a specimen tree, or keep it more shrubby at the back of a bed. Plant it on a rocky slope, or plant a row as a tough and reliable screen. Or, simply plant it for its unique character as an interesting plant, perhaps behind a rock garden.

Hardiness

The Coconino Western Oak is hardy at least through zone 5, and probably in zone 4 as well. It grows in all warmer zones as well, more adapted to dry summers than wet, humid ones.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Sun, sun and more sun are just fine with the Coconino Western Oak, but it will also grow in partial shade beneath larger trees. Too much shade, though, will probably make it spindly and greener, spoiling its best features. Plant it in any well-drained soil, including rocky ground and limestone soils.

Maintenance and Pruning

Probably untouched by deer, and seemingly not bothered by pests or diseases, all you need to do with your Coconino Western Oak is to water it while newly planted. Once established it will take care of itself. You could do some formative pruning when young, shortening back long stems to encourage a more bushy habit, or raising up the crown to show off the attractive bark, but these are all personal choices – not essential.

History and Origin of the Coconino Western Oak

In the west there are several species of oak trees that have been described, with Quercus gambelii a key species. It is a variable tree, from shrub to 100 foot specimen, depending on the location. The leaves are deeply-lobed in a typical ‘oaky’ kind of way. Other species occur alongside it and in surrounding areas seem to hybridize with it, creating a complex situation for botanists. Plants like Q. arizonica and Q. turbinella are common partners, among others, in this crossing, but distinguishing which cross is which for a specific plant is virtually impossible – a botanist’s nightmare. So all these ‘hybrid swarm’ species are called Quercus x undulata, the wavyleaf oak, or sometimes Quercus x pauciloba. Mark & Jolly Krautmann own Heritage Seedlings and Liners, a specialist propagation nursery in Salem, Oregon and are renowned for their ability to propagate difficult plants. We don’t know for sure, but it looks like they were hiking the Mogollon Rim of the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona – Coconino County – and found an interesting example of the wavyleaf oak. They named it Coconino and offer it with the trademark name of Western Oak, to distinguish it from other, less interesting varieties of this natural oak hybrid.

Buying the Coconino Western Oak at the Tree Center

We love being able to offer you unique and fascinating plants – and the Coconino Western Oak is certainly that, as well as being a terrific xeric or low-water garden plant that is also very cold resistant. We don’t have plants like this in stock very often, and they don’t stay long, so order now and grow a piece of Arizona in your yard.

Of course, there are lots of other reasons to plant a Chinkapin Oak tree. This American native tree is similar to white oak, but grows well on dry areas, and on alkaline soils, where most oak trees won’t. It’s a wonderful large tree for a larger garden, or added to existing woodland, and with its long life you are planting a tree for the future – and what more satisfying thing can there be than that?

Growing the Chinkapin Oak

Size and Appearance

The Chinkapin Oak is a large deciduous tree that will grow to about 15 feet in the first 10 years, and after that grow a little more slowly, eventually reaching between 50 tall and 80 wide. The largest wild tree in the country is 66 feet tall and 113 feet wide. This is a tree that will continue to grow for hundreds of years, becoming more and more majestic over time. The distinctive bark is pale gray and flaking, sometimes with a yellowish or whitish tone, especially on younger stems. Rather than forming a single trunk it will often become a multi-stem tree, unless trained at an early age to a single trunk. The broad crown has many large limbs in it. The leaves are smaller than many oaks, about 4 inches long, with many shallow lobes along the edges, each one ending in a point. The leaves are leathery, glossy and dark-green and resemble those of the chestnut tree. In fall they turn dark yellow, with brown overtones, contrasting well with the pale bark.

Once established a tree will begin to flower. In spring clusters of short catkins form, these are the male, pollen flowers. The female flowers are short, and develop into acorns, often in pairs, with a smooth shell and a rough cup holding it. The acorns are between ¾ and 1-inch long, and the flesh inside is sweet and low in tannic acid, tasty even raw, and ideal for cooking. They ripen in September and October. If you don’t eat them, local birds, from songbirds to grouse and wild turkey, certainly will.

Using the Chinkapin Oak in Your Garden

The Chinkapin Oak is a tree for a larger property. It is great as a lawn specimen, but don’t plant within 30 feet of a building, property line, roadway, or beneath overhead wires. It is ideal for adding to existing woodlands, or for planting on sloping ground and limestone bluffs. It is perfect for adding diversity to existing areas of native trees like maple, ash, beech, pines and other oaks. Because it lives so long, and takes some years to mature, this is a tree to plant for the future, as it will probably be around for your great-great-grandchildren.

Hardiness

The Chinkapin Oak grows well in zones 5, 6 and 7, in areas with moderate seasons.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun is best for the Chinkapin Oak. It has shade tolerance as a young tree, but not when it matures. The south side of woods is a good location for it, or on sunny slopes. It is unique among oaks for its tolerance of alkaline soil, and grows naturally even on limestone. If you have failed with oak before, and seen the leaves turn yellow, then this is the species for you. Once established it has good drought tolerance, and grows well on drier soils. It will also grow well on more moist, richer soils.

Maintenance and Pruning

The Chinkapin Oak is very low maintenance, after a season or two of summer watering. It helps to do some pruning after a year or two, to build an open form, with well-spaced branches in the crown. You could also remove lower branches a few at a time to progressively create a taller single trunk. Otherwise, it will grow as it would in nature – by itself.

History and Origin of the Chinkapin Oak

Chinkapin Oak, Quercus muehlenbergii, is a close relative of the chestnut oak, and part of the white oak species group. Its name comes from Gotthilf Muhlenberg, a pastor and amateur botanist in Pennsylvania in the second half of the 18th century. It grows from southern Ontario, Canada all the way to New Mexico, throughout the east but not along the coast, preferring mountainous areas, especially further south. It is often found on limestone bluffs and outcrops. The acorns are valuable food for birds and mammals, and different butterflies feed on the foliage, adding to local diversity.

Buying the Chinkapin Oak at the Tree Center

Planting large trees is always an adventure, and a sign of face in the future. That can be hard in these changing times, but when you plant a tree you make a positive contribution to continuity, and add to our vital tree populations. The Chinkapin Oak is a great choice, but order right away – our stock of these healthy young trees is not going to be around long. Join the people who plant for a better future.

Top of any list of large, long-lived trees are the oaks, and America is blessed with a range of native oak trees that live in almost all possible environments. Oaks are especially desirable – these kings of the forest reach impressive proportions, and they endure, living far beyond our puny life-spans. Most oak trees need deep, moist soil to thrive and endure, but we have one impressive species that will grow in drier conditions than most others, naturally thriving on rocky slopes and in drier soils. If that sounds like your property, or if you just love adding unique and beautiful trees to your garden or woodlands, then consider the Chestnut Oak.

A native oak found through much of the east, growing on mountain ridges and rocky slopes, this majestic tree is known for its beautiful bark, steady growth, durability and its longevity. A great choice, you can plant for today, with a tree that will be 15 feet or more within 10 years, and for tomorrow, with a tree that will top 60 feet in 50 years, and could one day challenge the national champion, currently standing 144 feet tall.

Growing the Chestnut Oak

Size and Appearance

The Chestnut Oak is a native oak tree of the white oak group, growing into a massive specimen with a thick trunk and spreading branches. It grows as much as 18 inches a year when young, adding about 12 inches after that, reaching 15 feet within 10 years, 60 feet in 50 years, and continuing to grow steadily, potentially living for hundreds of years. It may form a single-trunked tree, or a multi-trunked specimen, and often retains large limbs lower down close to the ground. The bark is distinctive, being very thick and dark-gray, with very deep, vertical ridges dividing it into large plates. Younger stems have an attractive silvery gray bark, especially noticeable in winter. The leaves are divided into coarse rounded teeth or lobes, creating a wave-like edge. They are slightly leathery, glossy and dark green between 4 and 6 inches long, largest on the shaded parts of the tree. In fall they turn an outstanding shade of rich gold.

Once well-established, trees will bloom in spring, often as early as April in warmer zones, or in May, with the half-open leaves. Male flowers are bunches of slender greenish-yellow catkins, and female flowers are on short stalks, developing into acorns carried singly or in pairs. The acorns are up to 1 ½ inches long, with a knobby cup covering the lower part of a smooth, oval nut. Older trees produce heavy crops of acorns, which ripen between September and November, providing valuable food for a host of wildlife, from songbirds, grouse and wild turkey to deer, mice, possums and other mammals. This tree is also a host to many important butterfly species.

Using the Chestnut Oak in Your Garden

The Chestnut Oak is ideal for planting on any large property, out on a lawn or in openings in woodland areas. It will grow on rocky slopes, adding diversity to existing woods. It could also be grown as an avenue along a private road. As a native tree it of course fits perfectly with existing native trees you may have growing naturally. When choosing a planting site, consider the final size of this tree. Do not plant beneath overhead wires, or within 30 feet of a building, property lines, other structures and space well away from other trees. Avoid areas likely to have construction activity in the future, as even an inch of soil added over the root zone of a mature tree can cause problems. Trees that are undisturbed will live the longest.

Hardiness

This tough tree is hardy from zone 4 to zone 8, growing in all but the hottest and coldest parts of the country. It is well-adapted to a wide range of conditions.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Plant your Chestnut Oak trees in full sun, or where they will grow up into the sun. Drier, well-drained soils are fine for this tree, although it will also grow in moister ground, but it still needs to be well-drained. It is also suitable for rocky ground. It is drought resistant once established

Maintenance and Pruning

After some attention to watering during the first season or two, the Chestnut Oak is self-reliant and very durable. Little or no care is needed for established trees. Some formative pruning should be done once the tree is well-established and growing well. Remove any crowded branches in the crown, leaving an open structure with broad crotches. Maintain a clean trunk by removing any smaller side branches. Once well-structured it can be left to be cared for by nature.

History and Origin of the Chestnut Oak

Chestnut Oak, Quercus montana, grows throughout much of eastern North America, from Maine to Mississippi, and west into Michigan, and wide-spread in the Appalachians. It is typically found on hilly ridges, while it’s close relative the swamp chestnut oak, Quercus michauxii, grows in low-land areas. Both species were at one time placed together as Quercus prinus. The timber is hard and dense, and has been used for everything from railroad ties to fencing, and being rot-proof it is especially suitable for use in contact with the ground. It also makes excellent firewood. The bark is rich in tannins, and was once used for leather tanning. It remains relatively abundant in reserves and state forests.

Buying the Chestnut Oak at the Tree Center

If the idea of planting for the future appeals to you, then you should be planting a Chestnut Oak tree. Enjoy its young life and look forward to it enduring through future generations – a real gift for your great-great-grandchildren and beyond. Order now, because tree-planting is becoming more and more popular in these uncertain times.

The Swamp White Oak grows into a rounded tree 50 to 60 feet tall, and just as wide, so allow plenty of room for its mature development. The leaves have the classic ‘oak leaf’ look, and they are large, up to 7 inches long, with 5 to 7 deep lobes on either side. The upper surface is dark green, and the underside is silvery-white, giving the leaf a two-tone, or bi-color appearance, which gives rise to its scientific name. In fall they make a great show, turning yellow to orange-brown, sometimes with red tones as well. The thick trunk has dark gray-brown bark, with deep ridges dividing it into irregular blocks. One special feature of this tree is the bark on younger trees, which peels away in strips as the tree grows, revealing rich orange inner bark. Like all oaks this tree develops acorns when it is older. These are an inch long, with a knobbly cap over the lower half. When ripe the acorns fall to the ground, and in this species the cap often stays behind on the tree.

Growing Swamp White Oak Trees

Plant the Swamp White Oak in a sunny spot, or in one that will be sunny once the tree has grown a little. Grow it as a lawn specimen, or in a row to mark the boundary of your property. As an American native tree, it is the perfect choice to add to existing woodlands, or to use in natural plantings. On a larger property an oak avenue is a great feature to make a boring long driveway into something special. Mix it among other trees as the backdrop to your garden. Wherever you plant it you will love this superb tree.

The ideal conditions for the Swamp White Oak are in slightly-acidic, moist and well-drained soil, but this is a highly adaptable tree that will thrive in both damper and drier soils. It has good tolerance of normal drought conditions once it is established, but it also grows well in soil that is poorly-drained and even subject to periodic flooding. It grows in clay soil, and alkaline soil, which it is less sensitive to than most oaks. Even so, on very alkaline, chalky soils the leaves may become yellow, so another tree could be a better choice for that kind of soil. It tolerates salty soil moderately well, so it could be good choice for a road-side planting, but don’t plant where direct salt spray can land on it. All oaks have some pests, but this tree is not particular prone to pests or diseases, and it rarely suffers from serious problems, and lives for many, many years in good health. If you should see round or irregular structures growing on the leaves, these are harmless. They are called oak galls, and they are found on most oak trees. This tree will even grow near black walnut, a tree notorious for releasing toxins into the soil around it, that kill other trees. 

Prune while young to develop the height of trunk you finally want. Don’t wait until it is larger, because removing large limbs leaves scar that take years to heal, and they may never disappear completely. Young trees soon cover small cuts, and they simply disappear. Prune during winter or very early spring, as summer pruning may allow the entry of the beetles that spread the oak wilt disease.

History and Origins of Swamp White Oak Trees

The Swamp White Oak, Quercus bicolor, is one of America’s numerous white oaks. American oaks are divided into two groups – red oaks and white oaks. There are many species among the white oaks, mostly from the Americas, but the group also includes the famous English oak, Quercus robur. Swamp White Oak is found growing with other forest trees all through the north-central and north-eastern forests of America. This tree is especially common in Ohio and New York state, and it grows around Chicago too. In keeping with its tolerance for damper soils, it often grows wild along stream and by rivers, as well as in low-lying areas. It is one of the longest-lived oaks, living for 300 years or more, so when you plant it, you can think of how it could still be there long after we have all gone.

Our Swamp White Oaks are grown from acorns collected from only the best specimens, and they are grown with care into sturdy young trees, just waiting to become a feature in your garden. We really enjoy carrying stock of America trees, especially such iconic trees as oaks, because we are planting for the future and preserving our natural heritage. Join us, and our other clients, and choose the Swamp White Oak for your garden. Buy now before our limited stock is sold.

The Shumard Red Oak grows quickly into a large tree, reaching 40 or 60 feet in height, or even more, and with a spread of 30 to 40 feet. Young trees have an upright, pyramidal form, but as they mature the crown spreads, to become broad and rounded in older trees. The thick trunk and sturdy limbs project an image of stability and durability, and this long-lived tree easily lives for 200 or 300 years, and 500 is not impossible.

The Shumard Red Oak has large leaves that are 6 to 8 inches long, and deeply lobed with pointed ends, in a classic ‘oak-leaf’ form. There are usually 7 lobes in each leaf, deeply separated from each other, and the leaf is leathery and a glossy deep green. The leaves stay green well into fall, but then turn rich shades of crimson and deep red, making a spectacular picture when most other trees have already lost their leaves. Fall color is good even in warmer areas where most other fall trees do not color well, due to the warm nights. You will extend the colorful fall season by planting a tree like this in your garden. The bark on young trees and smaller limbs is smooth, and bright gray. Older limbs and the trunk become dark gray, with deep furrows and grooves, and the trunk is sometimes decorated with white patches.

Growing Shumard Red Oak Trees

Plant the Shumard Red Oak as a specimen or shade tree on a large lawn. The spreading limbs create a broad area of shade, ideal for resting or a family party. Allow enough room when planting for the mature growth of this tree. Plant at least 15 to 20 feet from all buildings, and well inside your property line. Allow plenty of room between other trees too. For an avenue or boundary marker, space trees 30 feet or more apart. This tree is an ideal choice to enrich an existing woodland area. It is a native tree, and it tolerates some shade, so it will grow up well among larger trees.

Planting and Initial Care

Choose a sunny spot for your Shumard Red Oak. Young trees will tolerate partial shade if they will reach the sun as they mature. This tree will grow on almost any kind of soil. It grows on both acidic and alkaline soils, and in moist soils and dry ones too. Once established this tree is very drought resistant, making it ideal for states with hot and dry summers. It also tolerates several weeks of flooding, so it is a good choice along a river’s edge. It is hardy from zone 5 to 9, so it will grow almost anywhere.

Appearance

When the tree is mature it will begin to flower and fruit. The flowers are inconspicuous, small and greenish-yellow, arranged in clusters of hanging threads called catkins. These are about 6 inches long. The wind carries pollen from one tree to another. After flowering acorns begin to develop, and these can take 1½ to 3 years to mature. At first they are small and green, but once mature they are about 1 inch across, soft brown in color, and carried in a small, knobby cup. Trees can carry large crops of acorns, which are a valuable source of food for songbirds, wild turkey, and many animals too. Your tree will produce the heaviest crop of acorns if it is near other trees of the same or a closely related species.

History and Origins of the Bur Oak Tree

The Shumard Oak, Quercus shumardii, is native to southern states, from the Atlantic Ocean across to Texas. It grows north into Michigan and New York state, and even into southern Canada. It is part of the group of trees called ‘red oaks’, and it is a larger and faster-growing close relative of the Texas oak, Quercus texana. Our trees are produced from seed. Only the sturdiest and most attractive trees are used as seed sources, and it takes several years to produce a strong sapling tree. The Shumard Oak is difficult to transplant, so our trees are grown in containers for their whole lives, until you plant it. Choose your planting spot carefully, as you will find it hard to move your tree successfully once it has become established. This valuable native tree is not widely available, and we know that discerning tree-lovers will soon take our entire stock. So order now, and plant an oak tree for the future, that you will also enjoy from day one.

The Bur Oak is a large, spreading, deciduous tree which in time will reach at least 60 feet in height, and often more, even up to 150 feet in exceptional situations. It will spread as wide as it is tall. Younger trees have an upright, conical shape, but as the tree matures it becomes more spreading, so that older trees have a broad, rounded crown covering a considerable area. The leaves are large, between 6 and 12 inches long, deep green and with a leathery texture. They are deeply divided into 5 to 9 lobes, typically with two deep divisions around the middle of the leaf, giving it a characteristic ‘waisted’ look. In fall the leaves turn yellow brown. The bark is medium gray in color, thick and rugged, with deep vertical furrows when it is mature.

This majestic tree is a magnificent specimen for a large lawn, or along a property boundary. Plant it among existing trees, in an open sunny spot. When planting be careful to allow enough room for the mature tree. Plant at least 25 feet from any buildings, and well within your property line. For an avenue or screen, plant 40 feet apart, or more. With its dense crown this is a wonderful shade tree for a larger property. It is also ideal for developing natural areas, as it grows naturally in America. It is one of the fastest growing oak trees, and young trees grow 12 to 24 inches, or even more, in a year, so that a tree will be at least 20 feet tall within 20 years. This is a very long-lived tree – you are ‘planting for the future’ – and trees normally live 200 to 300 years, and even up to 400 years.

Growing Bur Oak Trees

Plant the Bur Oak in a sunny spot – unlike some other deciduous trees it is not shade tolerant when young. It will grow well in almost any soil, becoming largest in deep, moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates both sandy soil and clay, and once established it is very drought resistant and grows well in drier types of soil. Water regularly during the first few seasons. Although oak trees in general have a variety of pests and leaf diseases, these are only very rarely important, and this tree is very low-maintenance, reliable and very long-lived. It is also the best of all the oak trees for urban areas, tolerating poor urban conditions much better than other types of oak.

Appearance

When mature, trees begin to flower, with inconspicuous clusters of greenish-yellow flowers hidden among the spring leaves. These develop to produce large acorns, up to 1½ inches long. These sit in a deep cup, which has a fringed and highly textured surface. This give the tree its alternative name of mossycup oak. These acorns are edible, and they were an important food for both native Americans and early settlers. They are also a valuable winter food for a wide variety of animals and birds. The heaviest acorn crops develop if you have several trees growing near each other, or in the same neighborhood.

History and Origins of the Bur Oak Tree

The Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa, grows naturally across a large part of America. It belongs to the larger grouping called ‘white oaks’. It can be found growing naturally in the eastern and central states, around the Great Lakes, and up into southern Canada. Unlike many other large trees, it is not found in dense forests, but rather in open prairie areas, because it prefers to be in full sun. Also, this tree’s thick bark gives it fire protection, so it survives on the prairies where other trees are destroyed by fire. Our plants are produced by seed, from carefully selected acorns taken from the best-quality and most attractive trees. These are carefully grown for several years to produce sturdy and well-balanced saplings trees, ready to quickly establish themselves in your garden. Because of the long production time, these trees are not widely available, and our stock will not last long. So, plant a tree, and choose the Bur Oak now, while we still have trees available.