# willow oak (*Quercus phellos*) The willow oak is a tall tree with long, slender leaves that look like willow leaves. It provides shade and homes for many animals, making it a great tree for parks and gardens! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Forests ![willow oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/WillowOakinAutumn.JPG&width=800) Photo: Berean Hunter, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WillowOakinAutumn.JPG) ## Appearance The willow oak has long, narrow, bright green leaves that look like a willow's, despite being an oak. Its bark is smooth and grey when young, becoming ridged with age, and it grows into a handsome, rounded crown. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Fagaceae - **Genus:** Quercus ## Interesting facts - It's a champion shade tree, cooling down hot cities with its wide canopy. - Its strong wood is used to make floors, furniture, and even railway ties. - Some willow oaks can live for over 150 years, watching many generations pass! - This oak tree gets its name because its leaves look just like a willow's! ## Special abilities - **Fast Starter:** Willow oaks can grow rapidly, helping them quickly establish and outcompete smaller plants for sunlight. - **Water Wise Leaves:** Its narrow, willow-like leaves may help reduce water loss compared to broad-leaved oaks during dry periods. - **Acorn Power:** Willow oaks produce many small acorns, providing a vital food source that helps many animals survive winter. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 2000-4000 cm - **Spread:** 1000-2000 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Eastern gray squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Feeds on willow oak acorns, burying some for later. - **Eats:** [Blue jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Disperses acorns by carrying them away and burying them. - **Eats:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses young foliage and acorns when available. - **Shelter:** [Downy woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/downy-woodpecker) (*Dryobates pubescens*) — Finds insects and nests in the bark and cavities. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [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. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from the tree branches and be careful not to climb too high. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify willow oak? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is willow oak? 2000-4000 cm ### How wide does willow oak spread? 1000-2000 cm ### How big are the flowers on willow oak? 0.5-1.5 cm ### When does willow oak bloom? Spring ### Is willow oak edible? No ### Is willow oak toxic? Mild ### What is willow oak's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Harriman Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harriman-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Eutaw-Madison Apartment House Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eutaw-madison-apartment-house-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/howard-peters-rawlings-conservatory-and-botanic-gardens-of-baltimore) — Maryland, US · Botanical Garden - [Kingstree Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kingstree-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Oxon Run Parkway](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oxon-run-parkway) — District of Columbia, US · Nature Reserve - [Rutherford Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rutherford-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see willow oak](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/willow-oak) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Willow Oak: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/willow-oak)