An Improved Native Oak That Shimmers in the Breeze

American Dream Bicolor Oak (Quercus bicolor 'JFS-KW12') is a refined J. Frank Schmidt selection of our native swamp white oak, bred for a tighter, more uniform upright-oval crown and even better performance. Its glossy bicolor foliage — dark green above, silver-white beneath — catches the wind and shimmers, then turns yellow to coppery-red in fall, a step up from the species. It keeps the swamp white oak's outstanding tolerance of wet and compacted soils, so it thrives where many trees fail. Hardy to zone 3 and native, it's a superb modern shade tree. Whether you're planting a polished native oak in Edina, a tough boulevard tree in St. Paul, or a shimmering specimen in Woodbury, American Dream lives up to its name.

American Dream Bicolor Oak Plant Details

American Dream Bicolor Oak Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Polished Native Shade Specimen

With a tighter, more uniform crown than the wild species, American Dream is a refined specimen shade tree for a front lawn or open yard in Edina or Plymouth — native toughness with a more groomed, landscape-ready form.

Tough Tree for Wet or Urban Sites

It inherits the swamp white oak's remarkable tolerance of wet, poorly drained, and compacted soils, plus drought and salt — making it an excellent boulevard tree and a smart choice for low or difficult spots in Woodbury or Maple Grove.

Shimmering Foliage and Coppery Fall

The silver-backed leaves flash and shimmer in the slightest breeze all summer, and the autumn color — yellow to coppery-red — is notably better than the wild species, giving it strong four-season appeal.

Best Time to Plant American Dream Bicolor Oak in Minnesota

Oaks are deciduous, so you have two good planting windows in the Twin Cities:

Spring (late April–May), once the ground has thawed, is ideal — oaks establish best with a full season ahead, and spring planting gives the strongest root establishment.

Fall (September–mid-October) also works. Plant at least six weeks before the ground freezes so roots can settle in. Avoid mid-summer planting, and never plant into frozen ground.

How to Plant American Dream Bicolor Oak

1. Dig wide, not deep — the hole should be 2–3 times the root ball width but only as deep as the ball itself.
2. Check drainage — American Dream handles wet soil better than most trees, but set the crown at grade rather than in a sunken pocket.
3. Backfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't create a pure-compost "container" in clay.
4. Set the tree so the top of the root ball sits at or just above grade, and handle the roots gently — oaks resent root disturbance.
5. Build a 3–4 inch water basin around the root zone to direct water to the roots; flatten it before winter.
6. Mulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches from the trunk, and wrap the young trunk the first winter or two.

Watering American Dream Bicolor Oak in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

Weeks 1–2: water every 1–2 days, deep and slow. Month 1–2: every 3–4 days. Month 3 through fall: every 5–7 days during active growth, less when rainfall is adequate. Stop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes in late October so the tree can harden off for winter.

After Year One

Established American Dream Bicolor Oak is remarkably adaptable, needing supplemental water mainly during extended dry spells (2+ weeks with no rain). Water deeply to 6–8 inches every 7–14 days during drought, and let natural rainfall do most of the work.

Will American Dream Bicolor Oak survive a Minnesota winter? Absolutely — it's an improved native selection, hardy to about -40°F.

How is it different from a regular Swamp White Oak? American Dream was selected for a tighter, more uniform upright-oval crown and improved coppery-red fall color, giving it a more refined, landscape-ready look while keeping the species' toughness.

Can it handle wet soil? Yes — like its native parent, it tolerates wet, poorly drained ground as well as drought, making it highly versatile.

Why does the foliage shimmer? The leaves are dark green above and silver-white beneath, so they flash and shimmer as they catch the breeze — a beautiful, distinctive effect.

You May Also Like

• Swamp White Oak — the broad native species, supremely adaptable to wet and dry soils.
• Beacon Bicolor Oak — a narrow columnar swamp white oak selection for tight spaces.
• Bur Oak — the iconic, bombproof native prairie oak for large landscapes.
• Northern Red Oak — a fast native oak with bold red fall color.

How Many American Dream Bicolor Oak Do I Need?

American Dream is a large native shade tree maturing 35–40 feet wide, almost always planted as a single specimen. Give one tree 35–40 feet of open clearance from buildings and other large trees. For a matched boulevard or driveway row, space trees 35–40 feet apart so the crowns just touch at maturity. On a large property, an informal grove of 3 spaced about 35 feet apart makes a striking shimmer-and-fall-color planting.

American Dream Bicolor Oak Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Leafs out with glossy dark-green foliage; inconspicuous catkins open as growth resumes.
• Summer: Silver-backed leaves flash and shimmer in the breeze on a tidy upright-oval crown that throws cool shade.
• Fall: Foliage turns yellow to coppery-red — notably better color than the wild swamp white oak.
• Winter: Bare branches show a strong upright-oval framework; mature trees hold some tan leaves and drop acorns for wildlife.

At a Glance

✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Rain-Garden / Wet-Soil   ✔ Salt-Tolerant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant (once established)

Plant It With

• Swamp White Oak — the broad native parent species, supremely adaptable to wet and dry soils.
• Beacon Bicolor Oak — a narrow columnar swamp white oak selection for tight spaces.
• Bur Oak — the iconic, bombproof native prairie oak for large landscapes.
• Northern Red Oak — a faster native oak with bold red fall color.

Is American Dream Bicolor Oak Right for Your Yard?

American Dream is ideal for an open, full-sun lawn or boulevard with room for a 35–40 foot crown, and it handles the hardest sites — wet, compacted, clay, salty, or droughty — better than almost any other shade tree. Not a fit for small lots or tight spaces — it's a big tree; for a narrow spot choose the columnar Beacon Bicolor Oak or Crimson Spire Oak instead.