White Oak - Q. alba



This is in Baltimore at the UMD Botanical Gardens, or some such.



The spread on this tree can be extremely wide. This is why it is recommended to give it a LOT of reach-room!

White oaks set the standard for a lot of other oaks. A very large tree when fully grown, it grows into an awe-inspiring oval or rounded outline. The leaves are dark green or blue-green and have rounded lobes that turn to brown, red or burgundy in the fall. This is a tree best transplanted only when young, and lives for quite some time. Considering it's grandeur (and the fact that it doesn't branch like a Bur Oak), this is a tree that's fairly simple to identify.

This can easily be found here: University of Connecticut

The tree enjoys full sun and demands it: it'll grow over just about anything else, becoming a fantastic shade tree. It takes up a pretty large area, but is one of the most desirable, attractive oaks available.

It does enjoy more acidic soil and dislikes being disturbed (not a fan of compaction, construction). It is a slow growing tree, which isn't a surprise due to its size and wood strength. One must be cautious of gypsy moths (kill on sight!) Generally, though, damage is rarely significant.





These are young spring-growth leaves



White, chunky bark is attractive year round - if you're into white, chunky bark.

 This is a GREAT tree to preserve if it is located on a property that may have some contruction done. But, this is also one of those trees that can take a beating from construction. Be extra careful when it comes to protecting large trees such as this, because it can take years before it actually shows wear and tear - and by then, we generally have moved on and quit worrying, right?
 



Acorns are fairly large and the caps appear to cover perhaps a half of the nut.