Quercus bicolor (Swamp White Oak) Unity Grown

Quercus bicolor, commonly referred to as swamp white oak, is a short to medium, fast-growing oak which can grow to between 50-60' tall and occasionally up to 80'. Swamp white oak is naturally found in swamps, low-lying forests, and floodplains across large parts of the eastern half of North America, which makes it a great choice for mitigation and wetland restoration projects, as it tolerates wet, poorly draining soil, occasional flooding, but also has surprisingly good drought resistance.

Like all oaks, swamp white oak produces acorns, which for this species are shaggy-capped and smaller than those of many other species, and nuts are frequently around half an inch in diameter; Quercus bicolor produces a crop of acorns every three to five years once it reaches maturity. Swamp white oak acorns are ecologically valuable as a food source to a number of species including bird species like woodpeckers, blue jays, and wild turkeys, as well as mammals including squirrels, white-tailed deer, and black bears.

In addition to acorn value, many oak species are regarded as important keystone plants for their support of larval butterflies and moths, and Quercus bicolor is no different, acting as a host to several species of hairstreak butterfly and duskywing moths, among others.