Not my favourite oak

Birregurra, Victoria

I don't think willow oak, Quercus phellos, is the prettiest of oaks. As the common name suggests, sometimes rendered more explicitly as willow-leaved oak, its leaves resemble those of a willow.

The acorns may have pretty stripes narrowing to the pointy tip but I haven't seen mature fruits myself. These are a few immature fruits on a couple of trees in a home garden at Birregurra, just west of Melbourne, but the acorn is yet to emerge. 

Birregurra

The botanical name, phellos, is what the Ancient Greeks called the cork oak of Europe, Quercus suber. Willow oak is from south-western USA and does not have particularly corky bark. Although, perhaps relative to other oaks in the region it's a little chunky?

Willow oak bark, Birregurra

Willow oak is a member of the red oak group, which you'll recall from an earlier post, have leaves with pointy side lobes. This species has no lobing so no pointy bits. Also, therefore, little of the charm you associate with oak leaves. 

willow-shaped leaves of the willow oak, Birregurra

In North America, the species grows mostly in lowlands, often near streams, not unlike places favoured by true willows (Salix). While it likes moist soil, it tolerates drought well and will thrive in full sun.

I've also seen willow oaks grown as an avenue, in Paul Bangay's Stonefields, in central Victoria. On mass, they are pleasantly green and hedgy I guess.

Stonefields, Victoria

What reminded me of them recently were a couple of new plantings in an arboretum at Oldbury Farm, the home and beautiful garden of David Newby in the Southern Highlands, NSW. There were also young red oaks and English oaks, along with plenty of other deciduous trees, and some conifers.  

Oldbury Farm, NSW

The arboretum is a work in progress, so we can't really judge the beauty of this willow oak yet. The garden and parkland around the old homestead is an entirely different proposition. As complete as a garden can be (they never really are of course) and rather stunning. 

Oldbury Farm, NSW

Oldbury Farm, NSW