Oak trees can become massive after many years of steady growth.
Oak is a smooth-grain, strong wood that's perfect for furniture or building use. White oak is named after its light-color wood that accepts stains smoothly. Multiple oak varieties are included in the white oak family. Most varieties share strength and color characteristics, while others differ greatly in acorn size, leaf shape or growing conditions. Does this Spark an idea?
Post Oak
Post oak (Quercus stellata) belongs to the white oak family Quercus, and lumber cut from this tree is one of many varieties marketed as white oak. This variety of white oak can be identified by it's leaves, which have five lobes arranged in a cross shape. Acorns on this tree have caps that cover about one-third of the fruit, and the caps have slightly larger scales than the acorns of a true white oak. Mature post oaks will reach about 65 feet in height.
Bur Oak
Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), also known as mossycup oak, is named after its golf-ball-size acorns that are encapsulated by a cap covered in burs. This white oak variety often is planted in residential areas because it grows quickly and can reach up to 100 feet when mature. Wide spreading branches produce plenty of shade. Lobes on the leaves of this tree are deeply segmented and develop a wavy pattern toward the tip of each leaf. Because of their large size, much of the white oak lumber commercially available comes from bur oaks.
Chestnut Oak
Chestnut oaks (Quercus prinus) grows mostly in the eastern United States where the climate is humid, according to the U.S. National Forestry Service. Also known as the tanbark oak or rock oak, chestnut oaks grow well in loam or clay soils and on slopes such as those in the Appalachian Mountain range. Mature chestnut oaks reach a maximum height of 80 feet. Acorn crops often are smaller than other types of oak, but the fruit is sweeter. This form of white oak will produce a relatively upright trunk free of knot-forming lower branches, but it grows much slower than other types of oaks.
White Oak
Quercus alba is the original white oak tree. All heartwood from white oak varieties is prized for high decay resistance, strength and smooth grain that makes it optimal for furniture use. Quercus alba grows across North America and is distinguished by it's smooth-edge, six-lobe leaves. White oak trees reach a maximum height of 90 feet and are relatively slow growing, especially when compared with faster growing varieties such as the bur oak.
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