Swamp White Oak
Quercus bicolor
Learn about the swamp white oak tree, including when and why it was planted and where to find it.
Tree Facts
Family: Fagaceae
Type
Deciduous
Size
Large (greater than 50 feet)
Traits
- Broad, rounded growth habit
- Five- to seven-inch-long leaves with rounded lobes
- Bicolor leaves – dark green on top and whitish underneath
- Bark has broad, flat ridges with deep fissures
- Acorns usually occur in pairs
Native Range
- Midwestern United States
- Eastern United States
Story of the Tree
Swamp white oak is a majestic shade tree that thrives in moist, poorly drained soils. Its ability to grow in bottom land locations makes it valuable as a source of food for wood ducks, deer, turkey, squirrels and other rodents. The tree’s tolerance to compact soils makes it a good choice for urban settings where there is space.
The swamp white oak tree in Marathon Park commemorates the Global Olive Wreath Project, which honored the homecoming of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The project was a massive international effort to plant trees to form a large "Global Olive Wreath" around the world, reflecting a worldwide commitment to environmental responsibility, peace and prosperity.
