willow oak
Quercus phellos

Willow oak is commonly found along waterways and adjacent moist, rich bottomlands. It is useful for lumber and pulp products, and produces abundant acorn crops annually. Narrow, willow-like leaves, rapid growth, and easy transplanting have led to the use of willow oak as an ornamental.

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Light Fall Color. Water
Growth   Size
Timber Value

      Willow oak is used for lumber and pulp products.
Wildlife Value
      Willow oak is a major food supplier for a variety of species.
          Attracts: mice, squirrels, ducks, bluejays, red-headed woodpeckers, flickers, turkeys, deer
Regeneration methods
      Willow oak is difficult to regenerate without the presence of saplings in the understory. Intolerant of shade, willow oak can be regenerated by clearcuts, seed-trees, and large group selections. Stump sprouting will compliment regeneration.
Important Problems Early Detection tips
trunk borers tiny holes; frass (a sawdust-like substance)
Fun facts
Willow oak is very widely planted as an ornamental throughout the South. Willow oak has good pulping characteristics and, for this purpose, can be harvested young.
Quercus Latin name. phellos Greek "phellos" (corky - bark has rough, corky ridges).
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2004 Virginia Tech Forestry Department, all rights reserved. Text, images, and programming by: Dr. Jeff Kirwan, Dr. John R. Seiler, John A. Peterson, Edward C. Jensen, Guy Phillips, or Andrew S. Meeks.

questions, comments, and criticisms: email John.Peterson@vt.edu