Willow Oak
Quercus phellos
Pickup available at Aiken Nursery
Usually ready in 2-4 days
The first surprise of Quercus phellos is that nobody believes they're an oak. The leaves are narrow and untoothed, willow-like, finer than an oak has any right to be, and they turn soft yellow before they fall; only the acorns, small and round and produced by the thousand, give the game away. There is a small joke folded into the name, too. Phellos is the old Greek word for the cork oak, so Linnaeus reached for the name of one tree to christen another that resembles neither cork oak nor, in fact, an oak at all, but a willow. Native to the bottomlands and moist flats of the coastal plains from Long Island south and well up the Mississippi valley, willow oak has spent the last century becoming one of the great street and shade trees of the South, the reason so many old town squares and college quads are roofed in fine green shade. They grow fast for an oak, two feet a year when young, into a clean trunk and an open, rounded crown of forty to sixty feet, and they shrug off clay, compaction, and city air. The texture is the seduction: where most oaks read as heavy, willow oak reads as light, almost airy, casting shade without the bulk. The small acorns feed everything, ducks especially. Plant one and you are planting for the people who will sit under them long after you, which is the only honest reason to plant an oak at all.
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 6–9
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Soil
- Well-drained, Sandy, Loam, Clay, Moist
- Mature size
- Height 40–75 Feet · Spread 30–50 Feet
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Seasonality
- Deciduous
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.
Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.
Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
What is your return policy?
Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
What payment methods can I use?
We offer 35 different payment methods including major providers like Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, American Express and Diners as well as many different local payment methods including Klarna, iDEAL, AliPay, Sofort, giropay, and many more.
Can I make changes to my order after it’s been placed?
At Woodlanders, we strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can only accommodate changes to your order within the first 24 hours after it has been placed. These changes include adding or removing products and modifying the delivery address. If you need to make any changes or if there has been a mistake with your order information, please reach out to us promptly via our CONTACT page with your order number for the quickest resolution.
Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.