The Willow Oak

The Willow oak (Quercus phellos), belongs to the Fagaceae family and is native to the eastern United States, with its northern range extending to the Great Lakes region. It can be found in United States: Alabama, Arkansas, North and South Carolina, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

This oak owes its common name to the resemblance of its leaves to those of a willow, while its scientific name is likely linked to the thickness of its bark and the cracks found on older specimens, reminiscent of cork oak bark.phellos means cork in Greek..

The tree was introduced to Europe in 1723.

Uses of Willow Oak

The wood of the Willow oak is hard, dense, and coarse-grained, with a light brown color tinged with red.

Valued for construction, the wood of the Willow oak is nonetheless primarily used as fuel. Its bark and acorns are occasionally utilized for their high tannin content.

The Willow oak also holds significant ornamental value, particularly as a street tree in urban areas.

Characteristics of Willow Oak

The Willow oak is found in valleys, at altitudes ranging from 0 to 400 meters, growing alongside other species such as oaks(Quercus texana, lyrata, alba, nigra…), red maples, bald cypresses, or ashes. It begins producing fruit at the age of 20 and subsequently yields large quantities of acorns almost every year.

A deciduous tree, the Willow oak grows to a height of 25 to 35 meters. Its leaves, 5 to 12 cm long and 0.8 to 2.5 cm wide, are typically broader toward the middle. Its acorns, ovoid to hemispherical, measure 0.8 to 1.2 cm in length and 0.6 to 1 cm in width. Solitary or paired, they mature in two years and are housed in thin, saucer-shaped cups that cover between one-quarter and one-third of the acorn.

Visual © D.R.