White Oak

Quercus Alba

White Oak is a long-lived oak, native to eastern North America, from southern Quebec west to east Minnesota, and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. Specimens are known to have lived over 600 years. Normally not a very tall tree, typically 65-85 ft tall at maturity, it becomes quite massive and its lower branches are apt to reach far out parallel to the ground. The tallest known white oak is 144ft tall. It is not unusual for a white oak tree to be as wide as it is tall.

White oak is relatively rot resistant. It was a signature wood used in mission oak furniture by Gustav Stickley in the Craftsman style during the Arts and Crafts movement. White Oak's have cellular structures called tyloses, which does not allow water to pass. The white oaks, with tyloses, are used in making wine and whiskey barrels which prevent leaking. Other uses for white oak include interior construction, and ship building; most notable the USS Constitution build in 1794 and known as “Old Iron Sides”.