


The acorns aren’t as messy as those of most other oaks. phellos): The willow oak has thin, straight leaves similar to those of a willow tree. It grows farther north and west than other white oak types. It has an unusual branch structure and deeply furrowed bark that combine to keep the tree interesting in winter. macrocarpa): Another massive shade tree, the bur oak grows 70 to 80 feet tall (22-24 m.). It doesn’t like to be disturbed, so plant it in a permanent location as a very young sapling, and prune it in the winter while it is dormant. You shouldn’t plant it near sidewalks or patios because the trunk flairs at the base. After 10 to 12 years, the tree will stand only 10 to 15 feet tall (3-5 m.), but it will eventually reach a height of 50 to 100 feet (15-30 m.). alba): Not to be confused with the group of oaks called white oaks, the white oak tree grows very slowly. You’ll find that most oaks are massive in size and not suitable for urban or suburban landscapes.

This group includes:īelow is a list of oak tree types that are the most commonly planted. Their acorns mature in one year and they sprout soon after they fall to the ground. The leaves on white oak trees are rounded and smooth. Their acorns take two years to mature and sprout the spring after they drop to the ground. Reds have leaves with pointed lobes tipped with tiny bristles. The varieties are divided into two main categories: red oaks and white oaks. There are dozens of oak tree varieties in North America. Whether you are looking for the perfect tree for your landscape or want to learn to identify the different types of oak trees, this article can help. Long term, the average white oak acorn production is 37%, and red oak acorn production is 55%.Oaks ( Quercus) come in many shapes and sizes, and you’ll even find a few evergreens in the mix. This is the 17th year for the survey, where Division of Wildlife employees scan canopies of selected oak tree wildlife areas and determine the relative size of the acorn crop as well as the percentage that produces acorns.įrom 2020 to 2021, the proportion of white oaks bearing acorns increased by 13%, while red oak proportions decreased by 20%.

More: When will Greater Cincinnati see peak fall foliage? What prediction tools say More: Old Farmer's Almanac predicts cold, snowy winter in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana This means that white oak production is slightly above average, while red oak production is slightly below average. This year, the survey results found that an average of 40% of white oaks and 49% of red oaks bore fruit. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife annually surveys oak trees in 38 wildlife areas around the state for acorn abundance. Why does this happen? Mild winters can mean more acorns, as white and red oak trees are able to produce more in the spring, while harsh winters or a springtime freeze can lead to little-to-no acorn production. Related: Are you seeing more acorns falling? You could be in the middle of a 'mast year' In Connecticut, parts of the state are seeing a sparse output while others see a lot. In Michigan, one resident said two "epic oaks" outside her house started dropping acorns in bunches this year after not producing any for years. These mast years can be random, happening as often as once every year or two, and depends on the severity of the previous winter. In some places, it's a mast year for acorns, meaning oak trees are overproducing nuts. That's thanks to a slightly above average production of acorns from white oaks. Do you feel like you're crunching on acorns every time you step outside? In Ohio, that could be true.
