Quercus phellos
willow oak

Notes:

Well-balanced branching; full canopy even when young. May leaf out earlier than other oaks.

Avoid pruning in spring (when oak wilt vectors are active). Spring transplanting preferred. Distinctly shallower soil requirement than most oaks.

JerseyYards.org and USDA say no drought tolerance, but Dove/Woolridge, UFL, and Dirr directly contradict this, so majority wins. Sandy soil tolerance is also debated (Cal Poly, NCSU, and Dove/Woolridge vs. USDA and JerseyYards.org). Salt tolerance is *also* debated (NCSU and UFL vs. JerseyYards.org and the USDA).

UConn describes the fall color as late but long-lasting, but they used the exact same wording for at least one or two other oaks, so this might be a copy-paste job; no one else even calls the fall foliage showy, so I am ignoring it absent more corroborating evidence.

Sources: Dove/Woolridge, Sunset, UFL, JerseyYards.org, Missouri BG, UConn, Dirr, USDA, Dirr/Warren.

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Tags:

acidic soil preferred
alkaline soil intolerant
attracts:birds (ex-humming)
attracts:larval host
attracts:mammals
branches strong
clay tolerant
compacted soil tolerant
dense canopy
drought tolerant
easy to grow
exposure:full sun
fast-growing
fine texture
form:tree
full sun preferred
habit:conical/pyramidal
habit:rounded
infertile soil tolerant
litter:fruit
long-lived
native:eastern North America
persistence:deciduous
pollution tolerant
pruning required
rich soil preferred
roots:low damage potential
roots:shallow
sandy soil tolerant
type:broadleaf
use:shade tree
use:street
water:moderate to little
water:regular
wet soil tolerant
wind tolerant


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