Native to woods' edges and fencerows.
Horizontal branching gives a layered effect. Branch strength is debated. Cal Poly and NCSU claim fragrant flowers, and Dirr/Warren says the fragrance is slight, but no one else mentions it.
Growth is fast in youth but slows after about 20-25'. Difficult to transplant due to deep taproots. Can be coppiced every 2-3 years if a shrub size is desired in perpetuity.
Robert Kourik, in The Tree and Shrub Finder, writes that it blocks on average 45% of sunlight when bare, a middling result that beats e.g. Platanus but trails e.g. Ginkgo, Catalpa, Liriodendron, and Liquidambar. However, it still makes his list of recommended trees for winter sunlight.
Susceptible to ambrosia beetle and (in wet soils) root rot. Missouri BG and NCSU claim clay tolerance, but they are outnumbered by White Oak, Cal Poly, JerseyYards.org, and the USDA. Soil compaction tolerance is also debated (NCSU vs. the USDA).
Bark tea may be carcinogenic, so brew it at your own risk.
Sources: White Oak, Sunset, Dove/Woolridge, UFL, Missouri BG, JerseyYards.org, UConn, Odenwald/Turner, Cal Poly, NCSU, USDA, Bir, Dirr/Warren.
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