Rounding with age. Not for streets due to drooping branches. Easier to transplant than many oaks. Overused. Leaves persist through the winter (except as noted in the cultivars section below). Fall color varies by specimen.
Branch strength is debated (UFL vs. Cal Poly), as is salt tolerance (Stoecklein and Virginia Tech vs. JerseyYards.org). Poor compartmentalizer of decay.
'Pringreen' (Green Pillar), a fastigiate form, has won the PHS Gold Medal Award. 'Sovereign' is described as having superior foliage, form, and vigor and lacking the drooping lower branches characteristic of the species, but graft incompatibility may limit production.
'QREP20' (Epic) and 'QRSW18' (Streetwise), which may be hybrids, drop leaves cleanly. 'Sovereign' does not have sweeping lower branches and therefore may be a better choice where clearance is needed.
Sources: White Oak, Sunset, UFL, JerseyYards.org, UConn, Dirr, Cal Poly, USDA, Dirr/Warren.
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