You might assume with a common name like ‘swamp white oak’, Quercus bicolor, favors a marshy habitat loaded with frequent or continuous standing water. But that is not actually the case. Q. bicolor is most at home in a moist, acidic environment where soils at least occasionally thoroughly dry out; in the wild it favors stream and river banks as well as lowland areas that are prone to occasional inundation. To thrive in this environment, swamp white oak develops a shallow layer of fine fibrous roots to capture the plentiful moisture. But a complementary set of roots also dives deep to capture moisture during periods of drought.
Quercus bicolor’s native range extends in a swath from the north Atlantic coast west to the upper Mississippi River valley; from the St Lawrence River valley south to the high ground of North Carolina and Tennessee. Never a particularly common tree, it is most abundant in the lower Midwest and southern Great Lakes regions. It is often found in association with other moisture-loving species such as pin oak (Quercus palustris), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), red maple (Acer rubrum), silver maple (A. saccharinum), American elm (Ulmus americana), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), and basswood (Tilia americana) In the wild, swamp white oak is a fast grower and long-lived, typically with a lifespan of 300-350 years. It is a medium-sized tree; maturing at 18-23 m (60-75 ft) in height and a similar spread in its rounded, irregular crown. In non-forest situations, Q. bicolor often retains lower limbs for a considerable portion of its lifespan.
(article continues after photos)
Swamp white oak’s leaves are typical of the white oak group (Quercus subg. Quercus sect. Quercus), kite-shaped, 12-18 cm (4¾-7”) long and 7-11 cm (2¾-4¼”) broad, with 8 to 15 shallow lobes. They are a dark glossy green on top and covered with a slivery-green tomentum below, the source of the specific epithet bicolor. Fall color is usually yellow but may occasionally have instances of reddish-purple. The 19 to 32 mm (¾-1¼”) ovoid acorns are borne on short pedicles (stalks) and drop in early autumn. They are viable at maturity and often sprout soon after falling. Like many oaks, heavy crops are borne every 3-5 years, a phenomenon known as masting. The mature bark of swamp white oak is a thick and furrowed black to grayish brown and exfoliates in flakes. On younger stems, the bark is shaggy-appearing and peels easily, giving an attractive appearance in winter, especially with snow on the branches. Like many members of genus Quercus, swamp white oak is a valuable timber tree and is typically sold as ‘white oak’. The wood is also used for furniture and cooperage (barrel-making).
In the landscape, Q. bicolor is best suited for larger properties, as a specimen and for naturalizing. Once established, it tolerates drought well, but needs a acidic soil to thrive. Specimens grown in neutral to alkaline soils often grow slowly and exhibit chlorosis (yellowing) of the leaves. It is not suited to curbside planting due to its shallow feeder roots and dislike of salts.
If you are looking for a long-lived oak with year-round interest, swamp white oak is a great choice. For autumn 2025, WHN has a great supply of 1½-2” caliper trees along with a more limited supply of 2½-3”.
