How to Grow and Care for Willow Oak Trees Quercus phellos
What would you create if you could cross an oak and a willow? The willow oak!
Not truly a hybrid of the two, it’s an oak through and through, complete with acorns. But you might mistake the narrow leaves for those of a willow.
Willow oak is a favorite of wildlife, making all kinds of birds, as well as squirrels and other herbivores, extremely happy.
Watching the chipmunks and squirrels collect the nuts for storage has to be one of my favorite things to do in the fall.
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This isn’t your mother’s oak, though. Well, unless your mother grew one of these.
There are many cultivars that have an upright, narrow growth habit that makes them perfect for parking strips and lots, and planting closer to homes than you might be able to put a tree otherwise.
They’re easy to grow and more resistant to problems than some other species in the Quercus genus, as well.
Let’s talk all things willow oak. Here’s the lineup of what we’ll discuss in this guide:
If you’d like a rundown of all the pros and cons of willow oaks, please visit our guide (coming soon!).
Ready to get growing? Let’s dive in.
Cultivation and HistoryThe willow oak also goes by the names pin, peach, and swamp chestnut oak.
“Quercus” is the Latin word for oak and “phellos” is Latin for cork, a reference to the texture of the bark of older specimens.
But don’t confuse it with Q. suber, which has the common name “cork oak.” The latter is native to Europe and is used to produce the cork you know and love for making boards and sealing wine bottles.
Willow oaks are, as you probably guessed, part of the oak
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