Oak, Swamp White

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

A white-group oak for moist landscapes and seasonally wet ground. Pale leaf undersides and acorns on long stalks help distinguish it from white oak.

Key Characteristics

A flexible moisture fit

It tolerates seasonal wetness and can handle some dryness once established. Choose a site according to its seasonal moisture, rather than assuming all white-group oaks need the same conditions.

Leaves feed a different food chain

Oak foliage supports caterpillars such as imperial moth and hairstreak larvae; insect-eating birds use this living food supply. Retain some leaf litter and healthy leaf feeding beneath a habitat tree.

Acorns take a compatible planting

White-group oaks generally mature acorns in one growing season. Plant several genetically different trees, preferably of the same species, with overlapping pollen release for a more dependable mast planting.

Product Details

• Native range: Eastern and central North America
• Life cycle: Deciduous woody perennial tree
• Sun: Full Sun; Part Sun/Shade
• Soil moisture: Medium-Dry; Medium; Medium-Wet; Wet
• Mature height: 50–60 feet; varies with seedling and site
• Bloom time: April–May
• Bloom color: Green, Yellow
• USDA hardiness zones: 4–8
• Fruit or seed: Acorns for wildlife; crops and bearing age vary among seedlings. Human food use requires correct identification and thorough tannin removal.
• Pollination: Wind-pollinated; plant several genetically distinct trees of the same species or hybrid type for a better chance of overlapping pollen and acorn production.

Planning for Acorns

For a mast planting, choose genetically different trees with overlapping spring bloom; a different common name is not required. Our bare-root Swamp White oak seedlings offer another planting option. Independent seedlings differ genetically; extra stems or clones from one tree do not add that diversity.

Planting and Ongoing Care

Water the container root ball before planting and check for circling roots. Water during establishment, mulch clear of the trunk, and protect young trees from browsing and mowing damage. Base fertilizer decisions on a soil test.

Protect young trunks and roots from browsing, mowing, and compaction. Follow regional pruning guidance where oak wilt occurs; retain harmless galls and caterpillar feeding when practical. Avoid insecticides on open flowers. Growth, flowering, and bearing age vary among individual trees and sites.