{"product_id":"swamp-white-oak","title":"Swamp White Oak","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Adaptable Native Oak That Thrives in Wet or Dry Soil\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSwamp White Oak (\u003cem\u003eQuercus bicolor\u003c\/em\u003e) is the native oak that does it all — one of the most adaptable and bulletproof trees you can plant in Minnesota. True to its name it shrugs off wet, poorly drained soils, yet it's equally at home in drought, compacted urban ground, and road salt. Bold dark-green leaves flash bright silvery undersides in the breeze, the open, vigorous crown grows faster than most oaks, and it delivers decades — centuries — of dependable shade. Hardy to zone 3 and native across the state, it's increasingly the top oak choice for tough urban and rain-garden sites. Whether you're planting a wet low spot in Woodbury, a boulevard in St. Paul, or a majestic native shade tree in Edina, Swamp White Oak handles it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSwamp White 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\u003cem\u003eQuercus bicolor\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSwamp White Oak, Bicolor Oak\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50–60 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50–60 feet — broad, open crown\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to fast — quicker than most oaks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours)\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\u003e3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — extremely 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, compacted urban soil, and salt.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — 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 -40°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\u003eMinnesota native — found in wet woods, river bottoms, and lake edges\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSwamp White Oak Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWet Sites and Rain Gardens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew large shade trees tolerate wet feet like Swamp White Oak. It's the ideal native oak for low spots, poorly drained yards, lake edges, and rain-garden plantings in Woodbury or Maple Grove — while still thriving on ordinary or even dry soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough Urban and Boulevard Tree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts tolerance of compaction, drought, and salt, plus a faster growth rate than most oaks, has made Swamp White Oak a favorite for boulevards and street plantings in Minneapolis and St. Paul — a durable, modern native shade tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMajestic Native Wildlife Oak\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith a broad open crown and silvery-backed foliage that shimmers in the wind, it's a beautiful specimen, and as a keystone native its acorns feed deer, ducks, turkeys, and squirrels while supporting countless native insects and birds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Swamp White 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 Swamp White 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 — Swamp White Oak handles wet soil better than most trees, but still 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 — oaks resent root disturbance. Allow room for the broad crown.\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 Swamp White 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 Swamp White 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 Swamp White Oak survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Absolutely — it's native across the state and hardy to about -40°F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it really handle wet soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — it naturally grows in wet woods and river bottoms, making it one of the best large shade trees for low, poorly drained spots and rain gardens, yet it also tolerates drought.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow fast does it grow?\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate to fast — quicker than slow oaks like Bur and White Oak, so it builds shade and stature faster while still living for generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it native?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — \u003cem\u003eQuercus bicolor\u003c\/em\u003e is a Minnesota native with excellent wildlife value and superb adaptability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBur Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — the iconic, bombproof native prairie oak for large landscapes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhite Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — a majestic, long-lived native oak with fine fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNorthern Red Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — a fast native oak with bold red fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegal Prince Oak\u003c\/strong\u003e — an upright hybrid with swamp white oak parentage for tight spaces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Swamp White Oak Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSwamp White Oak is a generational specimen — one tree with 40–50 feet of clearance becomes the anchor of a property. For a boulevard row or large-lot canopy planting, space trees 45–55 feet on center; for a naturalized wet-woods grouping, 3 trees at 35–40 feet apart will knit into a native canopy over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSwamp White Oak Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Catkins dangle as the bold, two-toned leaves unfurl — a keystone moment for the hundreds of native insect species oaks support.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dark-green leaves flash their silvery undersides in every breeze; the broad crown throws deep, cooling shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yellow-to-russet color, and with age, acorn crops that feed deer, ducks, turkeys, and squirrels.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rugged, peeling-barked branches and a broad silhouette — plus young trees often hold russet leaves deep into winter for extra texture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Salt-Tolerant   ✔ 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\/bur-oak\"\u003eBur Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — the prairie counterpart for the drier, open parts of a big property.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/white-oak\"\u003eWhite Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — a majestic long-lived native for a mixed oak canopy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/northern-red-oak\"\u003eNorthern Red Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — faster red fall color to vary the oak palette.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/regal-prince-oak\"\u003eRegal Prince Oak\u003c\/a\u003e — the upright swamp-white hybrid for the tight side of the yard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Swamp White Oak Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have full sun and room for a 50–60 foot crown — especially on a wet, clay, or compacted site that defeats other big trees — Swamp White Oak is about the safest long-term bet in the catalog, with massive native wildlife value. It's not a fit for small lots or spots under wires, and expect acorns (and the squirrels that come with them) as the tree matures.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260809367857,"sku":"GT-T3439","price":397.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260809400625,"sku":"GT-T3440","price":439.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260809433393,"sku":"GT-T3441","price":507.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3\"BB","offer_id":54260809466161,"sku":"GT-T3442","price":548.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/swamp-white-oak.jpg?v=1779426697","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/swamp-white-oak","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}