{"product_id":"beacon-bicolor-oak","title":"Beacon Bicolor Oak","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Narrow Native Oak for Tight, Even Wet, Spaces\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeacon Bicolor Oak (\u003cem\u003eQuercus bicolor\u003c\/em\u003e 'Bonnie and Mike') is a tightly columnar selection of our native swamp white oak — exceptionally narrow and uniform at just 12 to 15 feet wide, while keeping all the toughness of the species. That means glossy dark-green leaves with bright silvery undersides, remarkable tolerance of wet \u003cem\u003eand\u003c\/em\u003e dry soils, and genuine native value, all in a slim upright form that fits where a broad oak never could. Hardy to zone 4, it's a rare combination: a narrow columnar tree that also handles soggy ground. Whether you're lining a boulevard in St. Paul, screening a narrow wet lot in Woodbury, or planting a native vertical accent in Edina, Beacon delivers oak character in tight quarters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBeacon Bicolor Oak Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eQuercus bicolor\u003c\/em\u003e 'Bonnie and Mike' (Beacon)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeacon Bicolor Oak, Columnar Swamp White Oak\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40–45 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12–15 feet — tightly columnar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours) for best form\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHighly adaptable — tolerates wet, poorly drained soils and drought alike.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — hardy across the metro\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExceptionally adaptable. Tolerates wet sites, clay, drought, and urban conditions.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — glossy dark-green leaves with bright silvery undersides, turning yellow to russet in fall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAcorns\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProduces acorns with age — food for deer, ducks, turkeys, and squirrels\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -30°F once established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — deer browse young trees and acorns; protect when small\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA columnar selection of native swamp white oak (\u003cem\u003eQuercus bicolor\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBeacon Bicolor Oak Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNarrow Boulevards and Screens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt just 12–15 feet wide, Beacon fits boulevards, planting strips, and narrow side yards where a broad swamp white oak would never fit — giving you native-oak toughness in a slim upright form for Richfield or St. Louis Park.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNarrow Oak for Wet Sites\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUniquely among columnar trees, Beacon tolerates wet, poorly drained soil thanks to its swamp white oak parentage — perfect for a narrow planting along a soggy property line or low spot, while also handling ordinary or dry ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNative Vertical Accent\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tight, uniform column makes a clean architectural statement, and as a native-oak selection it brings real wildlife value — its acorns feed deer, ducks, and turkeys — to even the tightest planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Beacon Bicolor Oak in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOaks are deciduous, so you have two good planting windows in the Twin Cities:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May)\u003c\/strong\u003e, once the ground has thawed, is ideal — oaks establish best with a full season ahead, and spring planting gives the strongest root establishment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFall (September–mid-October)\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Beacon Bicolor Oak\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — the hole should be 2–3 times the root ball width but only as deep as the ball itself.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck drainage — Beacon handles wet soil better than most trees, but set the crown at grade rather than in a sunken pocket.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't create a pure-compost \"container\" in clay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSet the tree so the top of the root ball sits at or just above grade, and handle the roots gently. Space trees 8–10 feet apart for a narrow screen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3–4 inch water basin around the root zone to direct water to the roots; flatten it before winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Beacon Bicolor Oak in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeeks 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished Beacon 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Beacon Bicolor Oak survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — it's hardy to about -30°F and well adapted to the Twin Cities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow narrow does it stay?\u003c\/strong\u003e About 12–15 feet wide at 40–45 feet tall — a tight columnar form ideal for boulevards and tight spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it handle wet soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — uniquely for a columnar tree, it tolerates wet, poorly drained ground (from its swamp white oak parentage) as well as dry sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it native?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — it's a columnar selection of native swamp white oak, offering native wildlife value in a space-saving form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSwamp White Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — the broad native species, supremely adaptable to wet and dry soils.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKindred Spirit Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — an even narrower columnar hybrid oak for the tightest spaces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrimson Spire Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — a narrow columnar oak with deep crimson-red fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAmerican Dream Bicolor Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — another improved swamp white oak selection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Beacon Bicolor Oak Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eScreen \/ boulevard length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTrees needed (8–10 ft spacing)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–4 trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–6 trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–12 trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a single vertical accent, allow 7–8 feet from walls and fences (half the 12–15 ft mature width). A matched pair flanking a driveway entrance, set 15–20 feet apart, is a classic use of this columnar form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBeacon Bicolor Oak Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e New leaves unfold glossy green over the tight column; catkins appear as the canopy fills in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Two-tone foliage — dark green above, bright silvery-white beneath — flashes in every breeze along the narrow crown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaves turn yellow to warm russet; with age, acorns feed deer, turkeys, ducks, and squirrels.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e The slim, uniform column reads as architecture against the snow, and young trees often hold russet leaves into winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Rain-Garden \/ Wet-Soil   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/swamp-white-oak\"\u003eSwamp White Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — the broad native parent species where you do have the room.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/kindred-spirit-oak\"\u003eKindred Spirit Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — an even narrower columnar hybrid for the very tightest slots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/crimson-spire-oak\"\u003eCrimson Spire Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — a columnar oak partner that adds crimson-red fall color to the lineup.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/american-dream-bicolor-oak\"\u003eAmerican Dream Bicolor Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — a broader improved swamp white oak to anchor the end of a narrow run.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Beacon Bicolor Oak Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Beacon if you need a tall native tree in a narrow space — a boulevard strip, side yard, or tight lot line — especially where the ground runs wet, since almost no other columnar tree tolerates soggy soil. It's not a fit if you want fast results or wide shade: growth is moderate, the crown stays slim, and young trees need trunk protection from deer.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260809269553,"sku":"GT-T3454","price":439.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260809302321,"sku":"GT-T3455","price":480.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260809335089,"sku":"GT-T3456","price":535.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/beacon-bicolor-oak.jpg?v=1779426690","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/beacon-bicolor-oak","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}