White oaks prefer rich, well-drained soil. In Illinois they are found in a variety of habitats, but they grow best on uplands, slopes, and terraces. The geographic range of white oak extends from Maine to Minnesota, south to eastern Texas and northern Florida.

White oak can be very large. Individual trees commonly reach a height of 100 feet. When growing in the open, they often have widely spreading branches, making them excellent shade trees.

The leaves of the white oak are quite variable in size and shape. They generally are between five and nine inches long. They are narrow toward the stem and have seven to nine lobes. The leaves turn red or purple in the Fall.

White oaks begin to produce acorns when they are about twenty years old. The acorns are about an inch long. Acorns are produced in the Fall, and the number varies from year to year. Large numbers of acorns are produced every four to ten years. When acorns fall to the ground, they are an important food for many kinds of birds and other animals.

The wood of the white oak is strong, durable, and beautiful. For these reasons the wood is harvested for use in cabinetry, interior finishing, and general construction. The bark is pale gray and narrowly furrowed. It has scaly ridges and smooth patches that are a result of a fungus that invades the outer, non-living portion of the bark.

Official State Tree of Idaho

The majestic western white pine (Pinus Monticola pinaceae) was designated the official state tree of Idaho in 1935. The largest and best western white pine forests can be found in northern Idaho in the Coeur d’Alene and Bitterroot Mountains (the tree is often called the soft Idaho white pine or just the Idaho white pine).

Western White Pine Facts

The western white pine tree grows in the mountains of the western United States and Canada (in the Sierra Nevada, the Cascade Range, the Coast Range, and the northern Rocky Mountains), extending down to sea level in many areas. Western white pine wood is soft, straight-grained, and evenly textured (used to make everything from houses to wooden matches).

Western white pine is a large tree, growing 30-50 meters (and sometimes up to 70 meters) tall. It is related to eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), but western white pine cones are larger, and it also has slightly longer-lasting leaves (needles) than the eastern white pine.

The western white pine is widely grown as an ornamental tree, but has been heavily logged throughout much of its range and has also been seriously affected by white pine blister rust (a fungus that was introduced from Europe in 1909). The U.S. Forest Service has a program for locating and breeding rust-resistant western white pine and sugar pine (seedlings of these trees have been introduced into the wild).

The kukui is a ‘canoe plant’ brought by Polynesian voyagers. Early settlers carried essential plant species in their double-hulled canoes during Pacific voyages. Kukui was among the most important plants they transported to Hawaii. Archaeological evidence shows kukui cultivation in Southeast Asia dating to 13,000 BC. Polynesians spread the tree throughout Pacific islands. The species originated in Malaysia or Indonesia, not Hawaii.

Voyagers selected kukui for its versatility. The tree provided numerous resources crucial for survival. Seeds were easy to transport and grew quickly. This made kukui ideal for establishing new settlements. The oily nuts served as the primary light source before Western contact. Hawaiians strung candlenuts on palm leaf midribs. They burned the nuts one at a time, each providing light for several minutes. Stone lamps also burned kukui oil.

Fishermen applied kukui oil to calm water surfaces. The oil spread across choppy water, creating a clear view beneath. This helped fishermen see their nets and catch fish. A Hawaiian proverb states ‘Pupuhi kukui—malino ke kai’ meaning ‘spewed kukui nuts—calm seas.’

The nuts provided food when roasted and ground into paste called ‘inamona. The oil treated sunburn and wounds. Tree bark made black dye for tapa cloth. The durable wood formed canoes and storage containers.

The silvery-pale green foliage stands out from other Hawaiian trees. Young leaves and branches have star-shaped hairs that create a whitish appearance. This distinctive coloring helps identify kukui forests from a distance. Large heart-shaped leaves have three to five lobes. The leaves measure four to eight inches long with toothed edges.

Small creamy-white flowers appear in dense clusters at branch ends. The flowers bloom primarily in winter and spring. Walnut-sized fruits turn from green to brown when ripe.

The kukui symbolizes enlightenment, protection, and peace in Hawaiian culture. Its role as a light source connects it to guidance and illumination. The tree represents the resourcefulness of ancient Hawaiians who used every part of the plant. Kukui also honors Polynesian voyaging heritage and the plants that enabled settlement of remote Pacific islands alongside symbols such as the Hawaii state flag.

General Information about Live Oaks:

The Quercus virginiana is also known as the Southern live oak tree.

The live oak tree is a southern symbol of strength.

The live oak tree is the state tree of Georgia.

The U.S.S. Constitution reportedly received its nickname, “Old Ironsides,” during the War of 1812 because of its live oak hull. The hull was so tough that the cannon balls of the British war ships literally bounced off it.

Live oak trees are planted in historical cities for their character and appearance.

Live oak trees weigh over 55 pounds per cubic foot when air dried.

Live Oak Tree Fruit:

Live oak trees product sweet edible acorns that turkeys, ducks, jays, quail, deer and other animals like to feed on.

Live oak trees start producing acorns when they are around 20 years old.

Live Oak Tree Growth & Life:

Live oak trees can live for hundreds of years!

The name live oaks came from the fact that they remain green and “alive” throughout the winter when other oak trees are dormant and leafless.

The name live oak came from the fact that they remain green and “alive” throughout the winter when other oak trees are dormant and leafless.

Live oak trees can grow in forests, in front of buildings such as schools, parking lots, gardens, backyards and more.

Live oak trees also grow by oceans. They do great resisting the salt spray.

Live oak trees support many types of epiphytic plants (including Spanish moss to a point); giving live oak trees more character.

The live oak tree grows 1 inch of caliper and around 2-4 feet overall per year when young.

A mature live oak tree can draw up to 50 gallons+ per day through it’s tap root deep in the ground.

Live Oak Tree Uses:

The live oak tree is the broadest spreading of the oaks producing an abundance of shade.

Live oak tree wood is very strong and tough and is often used for structural beams and posts.

Live oak trees were used in colonial times to make ships for the navy.

Nothing says Florida like a palm tree, so it’s fitting that the state tree is sabal palm. Oddly enough though, the sabal palm is not a true tree, and as a palm, is more closely related to grasses.

The sabal palm, also known as the cabbage palm, was designated the state tree in 1953 and occurs on the Florida state seal. There were actually years of debate before the sabal palm was selected as the state tree. Other trees up for consideration were the royal palm, slash pine, and longleaf pine.

Early Floridians had a variety of uses for the sabal palm. The bud of the tree is edible and is known as “heart of palm” and swamp cabbage, the trunk and fronds were used to build shelter, and various fibrous parts were used to make cordage.

Cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) is native to Florida, grows throughout the state, and continues to grow north along the coast to North Carolina. It happens to also be the state tree of South Carolina. Cabbage palm is found growing in pine woodlands, hammocks, and on river banks. These plants are fairly tolerant of salt spray on foliage but are intolerant of salt in the root zone.

Cabbage palms have curved, fan-shaped palm leaves with blades that are 3 to 4 feet long and petioles (leaf-stalks) that are 3 to 6 feet long. A full, round canopy forms atop a trunk that is 10 to 16 inches in diameter and grows to 40 feet tall. Branched inflorescences are produced in late spring and usually grow beyond the leaves, containing thousands of tiny, creamy-white, fragrant flowers that attract bees. Black fruits are produced in late summer and are consumed by wildlife. The immature leaves—sometimes called the “heart”—are edible and have a cabbage-like flavor.

The American Holly is considered one of the most popular trees in the world. Due to extensive cultivation of the American Holly by nurseryman and gardeners alike, there are currently over 1000 different cultivars, with more being patented every year (Holly Society of America).

The tree is ridiculously tough. The American Holly is widely known as the hardiest broadleaf evergreen. Native specimens found throughout the Appalachian Mountains have been found to withstand temperatures of -10°F, while cultivated varieties have been naturalized in Ohio down to -20°F. The tree is also not picky in terms of soil requirements. American Holly will grow in nearly all soils. This fact is evident given that its native range extends from Massachusetts to Florida to Texas. American Hollies grow on mountain tops, in river valleys, on flood plains, and along coastlines. This range of habitats and conditions means the American Holly does not take great risks in its habit of growth. The tree has a slow to medium growth rate.

The tree also reproduces the “old fashioned way;” male and female flowers are produced on separate plants (dioecious reproduction). A male pollenizer must be nearby in order to produce the beautiful red berries we are all familiar with on female trees.

Throughout history, the appeal of bright red berries and lustrous evergreen leaves drove the popularity of the English Holly. From the Roman and Druid winter solstice traditions to the eventual European Christian traditions, the symbolism and colorful nature of the evergreen holly in the dead of winter was constant. It is little wonder that when the European colonists landed in the New World, they brought their love of holly among their many traditions.

 Prior to their arrival, American Holly leaves had been used by Native Americans to make tea to treat cough, and berries had been used to make buttons. But Europeans brought demand for American Holly to a whole new level. They recognized American Holly as an obvious substitute for their English holly (Ilex aquifolium) holiday traditions, and decorative and landscape usage soon exploded. Today the popularity of the American Holly is as strong as ever.

The white oak tree (Quercus alba) is one of the continent’s predominant native hardwood tree species appearing throughout Eastern North America’s forests.

While it will not disappoint as a design feature, oaks are among the most valuable native trees we can plant. The white oak provides a habitat and food for countless species of wildlife. The white oak is the best tree to plant to attract butterflies and it supports hundreds of species of caterpillars. If you want to support pollinators and attract birds, planting white oaks will ensure that will happen. Besides being important for the environment, the tree makes barrels and ages various spirits such as bourbon, whiskey, and wines.

If you have the room and the time to commit—it can live 500 years—the white oak tree is a beautiful and invaluable addition to a landscape for its aesthetic value and role in the local ecosystem.

How to Identify White Oak Trees

White oaks are easy year-round by their height, rounded canopy, and big trunk. They are large trees that grow to 50 to 75 feet tall with rounded canopies. It has a large trunk, often 3 to 5 feet around. The tree’s bark is a light, scaley gray that flakes off in small pieces if picked.

The foliage of the white oak is very recognizable; it has simple, alternating, lobed leaves that are 5 to 9 inches long with rounded tips. In spring and summer, the leaves are dark green on the top with a white or pale green underside. In the fall, the leaves turn reddish brown and linger on the branches late into winter.

White Oak Tree Care

White oaks grow slowly while often living for centuries if planted in conditions that allow them to remain healthy. If you follow these few steps, you should have no issues starting your white oak’s long life in the right direction:

Plant your white oak tree in a location where it will receive full sun.

Provide your tree with soil that is acidic to neutral and well-draining.

Do not over-fertilize your white oak.

Water your newly planted oak often to establish a strong root system.

The magnificent Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) is the official state tree of Colorado. School children of the state voted to name blue spruce as the state tree on Arbor Day in 1892, however it was not until 1939 that the Colorado blue spruce was officially adopted as the tree symbol of Colorado.

Known for its stately, majestic, symmetrical form and its beautiful silver-blue color, the Colorado blue spruce was first discovered on Pikes Peak in 1862 by botanist C.C. Parry, and named by George Engelmann in 1879. Blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm) is also the state tree of Utah.

Sometimes called the silver spruce, the Colorado blue spruce ranges in color from green to blue to silver. In Colorado, it grows in small, scattered groves or singly among ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, alpine fir and Englemann spruce.

There are two related native species of redwood trees, the Coast Redwood and giant Sequoia, which share the designation of State Tree. Both date back to the dinosaur era and are known for their impressive statistics.

The Coast Redwood is the tallest tree in the world. They are 400 feet high, 100 feet wide and grow 2-10 feet a year. Weighing 1.4 million pounds, they live 2,000 years. Needing plenty of winter rain and summer coastal fog, they live best within 50 miles of the Pacific Ocean, from Oregon to Monterey, California.

The giant Sequoia are the largest trees by volume (52,508 cubic feet) in the world. They grow 300 feet high, weigh 2.7 million pounds and have a 40 foot trunk diameter and 31 inch thick bark. Sequoias need fire for their seeds to grow and live 3,000 years. They are found along a 250-mile stretch of the central western Sierra Nevada at 4,000-8,000 feet elevation.

Why does a Giant Sequia need fire? Without fire, conditions did not favor growth and survival of young sequoias. Before the arrival of European settlers in the mid-1800s, successful establishment of mature sequoias depended on fires intense enough to kill the tree canopy in small areas, allowing enough light for young sequoias to grow and thrive. Giant sequoias are a pioneer species—they are among the first to take root after a disturbance occurs. Another consequence of the lack of periodic fire is that burnable material, or fuel, accumulates. When trees and shrubs become more dense and logs, sticks, and fallen leaves or needles build up on the ground, higher severity fire is more likely to occur. When fire burns more often, it thins out younger trees, and reduces fuel on the ground.