Willow Oak
Quercus phellos
A fast, fine-textured red oak widely planted as a street and lawn tree for its narrow leaves and dense canopy. Tolerant of city conditions but drops heavy acorn crops and can develop girdling roots from container stock.
Field reference
Family
Fagaceae
Growth rate
Fast
Mature size
40–75 ft tall, 25–50 ft spread
Hardiness zone
5–9
Soil preference
Moist, acidic, well-drained loam; tolerates compaction and poor urban soils
Sun
Full sun
Pruning window
Dormant season; avoid April–July wounds in oak-wilt areas
Wood properties
Strong red-group oak (~0.61 SG), willow-like leaves but true heavy oak wood. Fine-textured, sheds limbs cleanly; large stems still build momentum in negative rigging.
Native range
Southeastern and south-central United States, New Jersey to Florida and west to Texas
Green weight
62 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Oak Wiltfungus · Severe severity · peak Spring and early summer (high infection risk from fresh wounds April–July)Spongy Moth (formerly Gypsy Moth)pest · High severity · peak Caterpillars feed and defoliate May–June; egg masses laid mid-summer overwinterBacterial Leaf Scorchdisease · High severity · peak Symptoms most visible mid-summer to fall (July–October)Cankerworm (Inchworm)pest · Moderate severity · peak Larvae feed and defoliate in spring (April–May) as leaves expandArmillaria Root Rotfungus · High severity · peak Decline visible in summer drought stress; honey mushrooms appear in fall
Common questions
Is willow oak a fast-growing shade tree?
Yes — it is one of the faster oaks, often adding 1.5–2 ft per year when young, while still producing strong, durable wood. That speed makes structural pruning in the first 15 years worthwhile.
Why does my willow oak brown along the leaf edges every August?
Recurring late-summer marginal scorch on red oaks is frequently bacterial leaf scorch (Xylella), not drought. Confirm with a lab test before committing to any treatment program.
Related species in Fagaceae
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