Bicolor oak - Quercus bicolor
Common name: bicolor oak, swamp white oak
Scientific name: Family: Fagaceae Genus: Quercus Species: bicolor Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8 Height: 50 to 60 ft Width: 50 to 60 ft Description: Bicolor or swamp white oak is an attractive shade tree. Younger trees have a peeling or flaky bark, maturing into blocky ridges. Leaves are dark green, with a silvery underside, as bicolor implies. In the fall, the dark green leaves turn a yellow to gold in color. Bicolor oak grows best in acidic, moist, well-drained soil in full sun. This oak species is tolerant of salt, drought, and heat. Chlorosis may develop when planted in alkaline (high pH) soils. The bicolor or swamp white oak belongs to the white oak group. Like other white oaks in this group, the leaves have rounded lobes, and are able to form tyloses in their vascular system that can slow the spread of oak wilt when infected. If pruning, do so in the dormant season to avoid attracting the nitidulid beetles that move oak wilt. References: The Morton Arboretum. Found online: http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/swamp-white-oak |