Swamp White Oak
Quercus bicolor
A tough, adaptable white oak for wet sites and rain gardens, easier to transplant than most oaks thanks to a more fibrous root system. More resistant to oak wilt than red oaks but still kept on dormant pruning where the disease is active.
Field reference
Family
Fagaceae
Growth rate
Moderate
Mature size
50–60 ft tall, 50–60 ft spread
Hardiness zone
3–8
Soil preference
Moist to wet, acidic loam; tolerates poor drainage and seasonal flooding
Sun
Full sun
Pruning window
Mid-winter (dormant); avoid spring wounds in oak-wilt zones
Wood properties
Strong white-group oak (~0.64 SG) with closed, tylose-plugged vessels. Excellent limb strength; heavy green wood demands controlled lowering on removals.
Native range
Northeastern and midwestern United States, Quebec to Georgia and west to Nebraska
Green weight
63 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Common questions
Will swamp white oak tolerate a wet backyard?
Yes — it is one of the best large oaks for soggy, poorly drained ground and tolerates seasonal standing water, while still adapting to ordinary lawn soil once established.
Is it more transplant-friendly than other oaks?
It is. Its shallower, more fibrous roots make it easier to move and establish than tap-rooted white or bur oak, which is why nurseries offer it widely as a balled-and-burlapped tree.
Related species in Fagaceae
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