Quercus phellos
Willow Oak
About the plant
What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
Safety
- Toxicity
- Poisonous to horse, cattle. Acorns, young leaves. Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin. Stated for Quercus spp.Plants Poisonous to Livestock
- Toxicity
- Low severity. Leaves, Seeds. Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
The plant
- Habit
- TreePlant Finder
- Habit
- treePlants of the World Online
- Height
- 40-75 ft12-23 mPlant Finder
- Spread
- 25-50 ft8-15 mPlant Finder
- Flower
- Insignificant; yellow-greenPlant Finder
- Blooms
- AprilPlant Finder
- Native range
- Southeastern United StatesPlant Finder
- Hardiness zones
- 5-9Plant Finder
- Note
- Tolerates clay, wet soil and city air.Plant Finder
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sunPlant Finder
- Soil
- Average, medium to wet, well-drainedPlant Finder
- Soil pH
- Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Moisture
- Medium to wetPlant Finder
- Watering
- Medium to wetPlant Finder
Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.
Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants Poisonous to Livestock — Cornell University Department of Animal Science.
Worth knowing
- Its narrow, unlobed leaves look like a willow's, but the acorns and the tiny bristle at each leaf tip give it away as an oak. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Quercus phellos
Protocol
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Very high
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Warm moist stratification
Temperature: 70°F 21°C
One of thirteen, on the second day.
about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 2 days.
8% germination in 2 days.
One acorn of thirteen, on the second day of the third period. The only run Deno reports.
How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.
Germination trials
Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials
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