White Oak

Since we're on the topic of oaks, what with Tuesday's post on red oak, it seemed appropriate to follow up with another oak species, the white oak, or Quercus alba. 

Quercus alba is a native forest tree found in the United States from Maine to Florida and west toward Minnesota and Texas.  It's a slow-growing tree and its high sensitivity to compaction makes it a little-used tree for ornamental applications.  It's also a tell-tale pH indicator.  Chance are, your soil is acidic in the presence of this (and other) oaks. 

And, as you can see, the fall color is excellent.  I think this, along with scarlet oak (Q. coccinea) are among the best of the genus for fall color.  Unlike the red oak, white oaks have rounded lobes, though the depth of the sinuses is quite similar. 

The bark is much shaggier-looking than red oak, and has a silvery gray sheen to it.  The common name, white oak, is referring to this light-colored bark.  Like the red oak, it is fairly easy to identify in the winter.  In addition to the tree's beauty, the white oak is very important in a manufacturing capacity.  The wood is used for furniture, flooring, boat building and for wine and whiskey casks.

Dirr writes, "Difficult to pen my emotional ties to this species," and I'm sure that sentiment resonates well with many people in the eastern states where this tree is ubiquitous.   He comments on the tree's beauty near Biltmore Estate, as well as along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, which is not too far from where this specimen was growing (this is at my parents' place in northern Virginia).  After looking at this gorgeous display of fall color, contrasted against such a perfect November sky, I'm hard-pressed to disagree with him.   ...I may just have to revise my list.