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Crop Matrix Tool

Use this tool to find out about characteristics; such as soil pH, cultivation methods, pests and post harvest treatment; for a specific crop. To load a crop's characteristics choose a crop from the drop-down menu. To see a list of all possible crops grouped by category click on the “Show List of All Available Crops” link next to the drop-down menu.

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White oak

General
Common NameWhite oak
Latin NameQuercus alba
CategoryNuts 
FamilyOak 
Variety 
Visual Traits
Floweryellow-green and red, monoecious, early spring to late May, at or shortly after leaves unfold
Foliage/Fall leaf colorburgundy, persist until Jan
Fruit / Nutripen Sep-Oct, turn from green to brown; mature 120days after pollination and drop 25 days later
Height50-80 (100) ft
Other valued traitslumber
Spread75-100ft
Cultivation
Field spacing / planting depthdirect seed 8-10" apart or broadcast and covered with firm layer 1/4"
Pollinationpollen shed to 3days after flowering; best fruit set f weather is dry for 10days during flower period, esp if follwed by cool period
Propagation methodSeed, B+B, Bare Root, low stump spouts, seedling sprouts
Pruningnatural pruning usually sufficient, epicormic branching possible with heavy release
Seed harvestripen Sep-Oct, turn from green to brown; mature 120days after pollination and drop 25 days later
Seed treatment and storageseed moisture contenct must not fall below 30-50%, no treatement necessary
Seedling treatmentrequire 35% canopy light penetration to persist
Sowing seedgerminate upon drop Sep-Oct; root growth continues until cold weather interruption, optimum temperature 50-60?F, loose soil or humus
Transplantspring; not after first year; ball and burlap
Watering guidelinesmoisture not critical at time of germination
Critters
Insect and invertebrate pestsmany insect pests, problematic at epidemic levels; wood borers
Pathogensoak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum) destructive, heartrot from fire damage; many disease agents, few threatening
Wildlife Pestsdeer
Soils
Compaction (tolerance)extremely sensitive to compaction and grade change
Fertility / qualitywide range
Mineralslimiting only on dry, sandy sites
Moisture and drainageprefers moist, tolerates dry, flood intolerant
pH5.5-6.5
Salt tolerancemoderately tolerant
Soils and topographywide range of slopes and aspects, excepting dry or shallow uplands, or poorly drained bottomlands; seldom found above 500ft in northern part of range
Texturewide range; prefers coarse and deep, but natural stands occur on clays and loams
Growth Pattern
Good seed crop interval (fruit load)4-10y, variation among and within stands
Growth rateslow
Longevitylong
Root habitdeep taproot and developing more fibrous lateral roots during growth, root grafts common
Seed-bearing age /max production(20) 50y / 200y
Habitat and Climate
Fire toleranceintolerant
Frost-free days (FFD)5-9mos
Hardiness Zone3b-9
Native RangeEastern United States
Rainfall / humiditywide variety of tolerance across range; average 40" in optimum range
Wind / ice / frost susceptibilitymoderately resistant to ice breakage
Light
Light recommendationfull sun
Shade tolerancemoderately shade tolerant, becoming less tolerant with age; responds well to release
Vegetation Associations
Competitive abilitycompetitive, persistent; climax tree
Indicator species and associated forestmixed hardwood, especially oak-hickory upland
 
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