White Oak - Quercus alba

Features: The White Oak is the Illinois State Tree and the most common species of oak found in the Chicago area forest preserves. Its wood was used by early settlers to build many things, including log cabins and early plank roads for wagons and stage coaches.

It can get more red fall color than some other oaks and young trees will hold their leaves over the winter.

The oak family hosts more types of caterpillars and other insect larvae than any other type of tree. Its foliage provides food for Hairstreak butterflies, Duskywing skippers, and too many other moths, beetles, wasps and insects to count. Its annual acorn crop is loved by many types of birds, squirrels and others.

Light: Full sun

Soil: Medium; combination of loam, clay, silt, or sand

Height: 60-80 feet

Blooms: Mid to Late Spring

See more information and photos at: Illinois Wildflowers and USDA Plant Database

 Photo 3: Leelanau Conservation District, MI