# White Oak (*Quercus alba*) The White Oak is known for its lovely, rounded leaves and strong wood. It’s a favorite place for birds to build their nests! - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 75 - **Habitat:** Woodlands and forests - **Also known as:** Mast Oak, Stave Oak ![White Oak](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771438762/objects/4785.jpg) ## Appearance The White Oak has distinctive light grey, scaly bark and leaves with round, finger-like lobes. In autumn, its foliage turns a beautiful reddish-brown, making it stand out in the forest. Its broad, rounded crown gives it a majestic, spreading appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Fagaceae - **Genus:** Quercus ## Interesting facts - Early settlers used its bark to make dyes and even leather! - It can live for over 500 years, a true ancient giant! - Its strong wood was used to build famous ships and settler's homes. - Many states have chosen the mighty White Oak as their official state tree. ## Special abilities - **Deep Root Anchor:** White Oak's deep roots reach for water in droughts, keeping it stable against strong winds. - **Fire Resistant Shield:** White Oak's thick, furrowed bark protects its living tissues, helping it survive some forest fires. - **Acorn Powerhouse:** White Oak produces many acorns, feeding wildlife and helping new oak trees to grow. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-35 m - **Spread:** 15-25 m - **Edible:** No - **Size:** 90-180 cm - **Lifespan:** 200-500 years - **Fruit Type:** Acorn - **Growth Rate:** Medium - **Leaf Type:** Deciduous ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Squirrels devour its nutritious acorns. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse leaves and munch on acorns. - **Eats:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Jays eat and bury acorns, helping new trees. - **Parasitizes:** Horned Oak Gall Wasp (*Callirhytis cornigera*) — Larvae cause galls to grow on twigs. - **Symbiotic with:** King Bolete (*Boletus edulis*) — Fungus helps roots absorb nutrients. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White Oak? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is White Oak? 20-35 m ### How wide does White Oak spread? 15-25 m ### Is White Oak edible? No ### How big is White Oak? 90-180 cm ### How long does White Oak live? 200-500 years ### Where is White Oak usually found? Woodlands and forests ### What kind of fruit does White Oak produce? Acorn ## Where to spot - [Advance Mills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/advance-mills) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood - [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest - [Brattleboro Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brattleboro-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Camp Evans](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-evans) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Centennial Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centennial-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Concord](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/concord) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/white-oak) ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [Sugar Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sugar-maple) (*Acer saccharum*) --- Source: [White Oak: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak)