Oregon White Oak

Easy to Maintain

Native to pacific northwest

Valuable to wildlife

Drought Tolerant

Characteristics:
This large Pacific Northwest native oak has a beautiful form, broadly spreading with a rounded crown. Its glossy, dark green, round-lobed leaves turn in autumn to a golden brown, occasionally tinted yellow or red. Oregon White Oak is drought-tolerant and thrives in drier environments. It supports a multitude of wildlife species such as the acorn woodpecker, slender-billed white-breasted nuthatch, and Western gray squirrel, as well as hundreds of species of insects, including pollinators. Oregon white oak and its associated habitats, such as oak savanna and prairie, are part of a diminishing ecosystem that has been actively managed by Native Americans in our region for thousands of years.

Growing Conditions:
Slower-growing. A great summer shade tree for a sunny location. Can tolerate seasonal flooding but prefers drier soil in summer.

Uses:
Beautiful native tree. Western gray squirrel dependent on this native species for food. Host plant for butterflies: Propertius duskywing and California sister.

Height:
50' at maturity

Width:
50' at maturity

Shape:
Rounded crown with stout limbs and complex branching pattern when mature.

Flowers:
Both male and female flowers are tiny and inconspicuous and appear before leaves in spring.

Leaves:
Glossy, dark green, round lobed leaves. In autumn, color is a golden brown, occasionally tinted yellow or red.

Bark:
Light gray and shaggy.

More Information:
Oregon oak and associated habitats, such as oak savanna and prairie, are part of a diminishing ecosystem that was actively managed by Native Americans in our region for thousands of years. Oregon white oak woodlands are today in drastic decline — they represent only 15% of their historic range. The trees are magnificent and support a multitude of wildlife such as the acorn woodpecker, the slender-billed nuthatch and the Western gray squirrel, as well as hundreds of species of insects, including pollinators, which provide food for birds and wildlife. Even isolated mature, or “granny” oak trees in farm fields are important oases for birds (a documented 47 species) and other wildlife, providing food, shelter and nesting sites. (Source: West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District)