Willow Oak

Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) is an oak with the leaf of a willow: narrow, fine and light, turning yellow to russet before it drops. It reaches about 12m tall and 8m wide, and it is fast for an oak, so a real shade canopy arrives in years rather than decades. This is a tree for a large site, a long driveway or a lawn with room to spare.

Why you'll love it

• Fine texture, not heavy shade. The narrow leaves cast dappled light rather than dense shadow, and they break down quickly on a lawn.
• Fast, for an oak. It builds height and canopy noticeably quicker than the classic English oak while keeping the same clean shape.
• It handles wet ground. Soil that stays waterlogged for periods after rain is tolerated, which rules out very few sites.
• Autumn colour and birds. Yellow through to russet before leaf drop, and acorns that bring birds into the canopy.

Where it works best

Shade tree. A single specimen on a large lawn or in a paddock, where a canopy 8m across can develop fully instead of being cut back every few years.

Driveways and avenues. Space trees 8m apart down a long drive so the mature canopies meet cleanly. This is the tree at its best on acreage.

Feature planting. The form is symmetrical and clean, so it holds attention in a park, a school ground or a generous front garden.

Growing Willow Oak in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It is frost hardy and heat tolerant, so cool temperate and warm temperate gardens both suit, though autumn colour is stronger where the nights turn genuinely cold.

Soil. Deep soil is ideal, but it manages clay and sites that stay wet after rain, and once established it also takes dry spells. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers to build the root system, then water only in extended dry weather. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring for the first few years.

Pruning. Prune in winter while it is bare. Remove crossing branches and lift the lower canopy gradually across several seasons to set a clear trunk, rather than making heavy cuts on an established tree.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in 45L and 100L. The 45L is a young tree with a clear leader, manageable by two people and the sensible choice if you are planting a row. The 100L is advanced stock with trunk thickness and canopy already established, for a driveway that needs to look finished sooner.

Deciduous trees move most easily in winter when they are bare, and go out in leaf through the warmer months. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The best canopy trees for shade, and how to choose between them.
• Compare other driveway and avenue trees.
• Browse the full range of trees with autumn colour.
• See what else is available as advanced trees.

Common questions

How much room does it need?

Plan for 12m tall and 8m wide. In practice that means an open lawn or acreage, well clear of the house, and 8m between trees in an avenue.

Is it faster than other oaks?

Yes, it is one of the quicker oaks to build height and canopy. Quick for an oak still means measuring progress in seasons rather than months.

Will it grow in wet soil?

It tolerates ground that is periodically wet, which is unusual in a large shade tree. Permanently waterlogged soil with no drainage is still a problem.

Does it colour well in Australia?

Yellow through to russet, most reliably in cool temperate gardens. In warm temperate districts the colour is softer and the leaves hang on longer.