Wye Oak
Quercus alba
Pickup available at Aiken Nursery
Usually ready in 2-4 days
Quercus alba, the white oak, is the grandfather of the eastern forest, a slow, massive, long-lived tree that can stand for centuries and outlast the people who plant them. The most famous of all was the Wye Oak of Wye Mills, Maryland, a single white oak that stood for more than four hundred and sixty years and served as Maryland's state tree until a storm brought the giant down in 2002. The broad, rounded crown, the pale, scaly, ash-gray bark, and the deeply lobed, blue-green leaves are the picture most people carry of an oak.
No native tree has given more. White oak acorns are among the sweetest of the oaks, low enough in tannin that Native peoples across eastern North America gathered, leached, and ground them into a staple meal, and the acorns still feed deer, turkeys, squirrels, wood ducks, and jays every fall. The timber is legendary in its own right, tight-grained and watertight, the wood of ships, barrels, and bourbon casks; the very name white oak conjures the material as much as the tree.
The bark carried the medicine. Rich in tannins, white oak inner bark was one of the great astringents of Native American and settler herbalism, taken for looseness of the gut and gargled for a raw throat, and used externally as a wash for wounds and inflammation. The genus name Quercus is the old Latin for oak, and it hides a small piece of chemistry: quercetin, the antioxidant pigment first drawn from oak, is named for the tree. A fuller account of the traditional uses appears in the medicinal notes below.
In the garden, plant white oak for the long view, the way an earlier generation planted the trees now shading their grandchildren. Give an open, sunny site with deep, well-drained, slightly acid soil and plenty of room for a slow tree that can reach eighty feet and spread as wide, a lawn specimen, a park or estate tree, or the anchor of a native woodland. White oak resents having the roots disturbed once established, so site the tree carefully and let the roots settle undisturbed; underplant only at the outer dripline, and let a great oak become, over decades, the finest thing in the garden.
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 3–9
- Sun
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Soil
- Well-drained
- Mature size
- Height 50–80 Feet · Spread 50–80 Feet
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Seasonality
- Deciduous
References & research
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is shared for traditional and educational interest only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before any medicinal use.
- High tannin content; internal use in excess can upset digestion and hinder nutrient and drug absorption
- Not for prolonged internal use
- Seek professional guidance before any medicinal use
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.
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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.
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