How Fast Does White Oak Grow to Reach Maturity?
The white oak is a tall and long-lived tree that can reach heights of 80 to 100 feet. There have been reports of individual trees that are as high as 150 feet tall, 244 centimeters wide and 600 years old.
If you are looking to find information on white oaks and how fast do white oak trees grow, you are at the right place as we are covering everything about this in today’s article.
In open areas, white oak has a short, stocky bole and a crown that spreads out across the top in a rough manner. White oaks have tall, straight trunks with a dense crown in the forest.
Given that their trunks can reach a diameter of six feet, this tree should be given plenty of space in the landscape.
Skip To
- White Oak Overview
- White Oak Tree Growth Rate
- What Hampers White Oak Tree’s Growth?
- Red Oak Vs. White Oak Growth Rate
- White Oak Height
- How Fast Do Oak Trees Grow In Diameter?
- Why Plant A White Oak Tree?
Let us explain how fast does a white oak grow in easy words. If the tree is planted in an area with less than 8 feet of tree field, the trunk will flare out at the bottom, elevating walkways and curbs.
The brilliant crimson fall color is consistent across the years and exceptional among oaks in hardiness regions 8a and other cooler regions. There is a possibility that brown leaves will remain on the tree well into the beginning of winter.
White Oak Overview
Let’s look at all the features of white oak trees before we go ahead to answer how fast does white oak grow.
| Scientific name | Quercus alba |
| Common name | White oak |
| Family | Fagaceae |
| Native | North America |
| Height | 60 – 100 feet |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Sunlight | Partial to full |
| Soil | Well-drained clay, loam, sand, acidic soil |
| Drought | Moderate |
| Pruning | Little pruning required |
| Hardiness zone | 3-8 |
What Is The Growth Rate of White Oak Trees?
Generally speaking, to find how fast do white oak trees grow, we should look for a broader perspective since white oak is considered a slow-growing tree. Long-lived and slow-growing, the white oak tree can reach 60-100 feet in height and 50-90 feet wide in its natural bottomland soil before it dies.
It is very uncommon for ancient specimens to reach enormous size after being in the wild for many hundred years.
Because white oak trees mature at such a glacial pace, few people choose them to serve in an ornamental capacity. In a typical year, they will grow little more than approximately 12 to 24 inches at most.
Related: Oak tree lifespan | Oak tree growth rate | Oak tree care | Fertilizing oak tree
What Hampers White Oak Tree Growth?
To find how fast does white oak grow, we must find what hampers their growth, here are the following factors that could affect the growth rate of a white oak tree:
Soil:
The white oak may thrive in a wide variety of soil conditions. They do best in either soil that is somewhat acidic or dirt that is alkaline. They are not picky about the moisture level of the soil and can thrive in either wet or dry conditions; nevertheless, depending on the soil’s characteristics, their root systems will vary.
Sun Exposure:
White oaks can survive in conditions of partial shadow, but they do better when they are planted in open areas where they receive full sunlight for the majority of the day. They will get much shorter and wider in open areas, while they will become bigger and taller and more slender in forested areas.
Water:
In terms of moisture, white oak requires soil that is damp to moderately moist. It can thrive in slightly dry soils, although it isn’t particularly drought-resistant. Drainage is an important consideration when dealing with moisture. Make sure that your soil is well-drained to protect your White Oak from root rot.
Pruning:
It is safe for anyone to prune White Oak trees when they are young. However, how fast does a white oak grow will depend on its variety and the care you provide them.
Oak trees should be pruned in the dormant season after the harshest of winter’s temperatures have passed, but before the tree begins to actively grow again. This will prevent any more damage from a rapid freeze to open wounds, while also providing the open wounds with sufficient space to heal before bugs become active.
When it comes to Oak species, this is especially significant since insects can spread the Oak Wilt disease through exposed wounds.
Avoid root damage:
White oak trees that have already been established cannot withstand having their root systems damaged. The tree is more vulnerable to disease if it is damaged or disturbed substantially. Nearly any White Oak tree’s canopy should be avoided when building or excavating.
Compaction of the soil surrounding the roots of oak trees must also be prevented. Don’t drive beneath or near an oak tree to keep soil from being compacted.
Related: How long does an oak tree take to grow?
Red Oak Vs. White Oak Growth Rate
Although white oaks can grow to be significantly bigger than red oaks, the latter are known for their quicker rate of growth.
On average, a little further than two feet is added to a red oak’s height annually for the first ten years of its life. If you are still wondering how fast do white oak trees grow, white oaks typically grow at the speed of less than one foot per year, while certain trees are capable of growing at significantly quicker rates.
Both white oak trees and red oak trees belong to the same family and share many characteristics in common. On the other hand, they too have some unique characteristics that set each apart.
If you’re still wondering, how fast does a white oak grow; know that although white oaks mature more slowly than red oaks, they are typically significantly larger. They have extremely hard bark, and the pores in their wood are closed, making it moisture resistive and impervious to water damage.
The reddish-brown color of red oak wood is due to the presence of innumerable large pores. The bark of red oaks is much smoother than that of white oaks. The leaves of red oak are angular and sharp, whereas the leaves of white oak are silky and have curved corners.
Related: Oak Tree Leaves
White Oak Height
The height of an oak tree will vary depending on where it is planted, just like its roots. To reach a desirable vantage point in the forest canopy, white oak trees must become substantially taller. A 24-30-meter-tall tree is typical in these conditions, with thinner trunks.
With its vast branches, white oak will be much shorter when it grows in a wide open area. The tree can grow broader rather than tall under these conditions. Trees may only grow to the dimensions of a small bush at high elevations.
How Fast Do Oak Trees Grow In Diameter?
Now since we have found how fast do white oak trees grow, we must know more about their measurements. The diameter of oak trees can be anything from 30-40 inches, and the overall height could be anywhere from 15 to 115 ft.
White oaks are notorious for their enormous size and expansive dispersion throughout the landscape. They have a large crown that is topped by branches that, in most cases, develop in a parallel fashion to the ground.
In areas with a lot of open space, the branches of the trees will grow relatively close to the ground; in some cases, they will grow so close that a person might just climb up on one of the twigs and walk beside it.
In wooded areas, white oak trees can sprout branches far higher up its trunk than they would in a more open setting. This is because a tree that is forced to grow in more shady settings must conserve its energy to increase its trunk height.
When they have reached the necessary height, they will be capable of growing their strands, which will allow for additional leaf area, which will allow for an increased rate of photosynthesis.
Related: White oak lifespan
Why Plant A White Oak Tree?
We have learned how fast does white oak grow and now it’s time to find out why you should plant a white oak tree. Following are the uses of planning a white oak tree:
Wood:
White oak wood has delicate, almost white sapwood that gives it a light brown color. The timber is hefty, dense, and extremely durable. Water and rot do not affect the wood in any way, making it ideal for alcohol and wine casks.
Whiskies aged in oak casks are among the most delectable, and the benefits of wood barrels in winemaking are well-known.
Due to its density, durability, and low splintering risk, wood is an ideal material for this application.
The water and rot resistance of white oak wood makes it ideal for agricultural implements, shipyards, and even home interiors, where it may be used to finish walls and upholstery.
Wildlife:
In general, forest dwellers prefer white oak acorns over red ones because they are sweeter and less bitter. There are a variety of wildlife species that feed off of the nuts, including wild turkey and wood ducks, as well as pheasants and other game birds like grackles and blue jays.
There are white-tailed deer that eat the tree’s young growth, which is a vital source of food for them throughout the winter months.
Shade:
Due to several factors, this large tree is not very well-liked for use as an ornamental or street tree. But considering answer how fast does white oak grow and their huge size they do an excellent job of providing shade.
First and foremost, they are extremely sensitive to pollutants and road salt. The deciduous nature and high acorn crops of these trees also make for a messy fall. As a result, they aren’t popular as decorative trees.
You might also like to read about the growth rates of other oak varieties like: Pin Oak, Shumard Oak, Northern Red Oak, Willow Oak, Nuttall Oak.
