White Oak

In our areas, it's common to see a giant spreading oak tree in the middle of a farm field. They are leftovers from the days when people used acorns to fatten their hogs, and the shade from trees to rest their horses.

Tractors don't need shade, and hogs have long been fattened with corn. The trees can't be convenient for the farmers but the giants live on. I like to think that the farmers keep them just because they are beautiful.

But that's not the only reason to plant an oak, although it's a good one. As mentioned, acorns are excellent pig feed, and wildlife are attracted to white oaks' sweeter nuts. In addition they can support up to 900, (that's NINE HUNDRED) species of butterflies and moths, which support myriads of birds and small mammals via their caterpillars. Acorns can be leached and ground for flour for humans as well.

Oak wood is tough and beautiful making this a good lumber tree as well.

So if you want a tree that feeds you, wildlife, pollinators, and birds, a bastion of biodiversity, plant an oak!

We gathered the seed for these trees from one of the old giants with particularly large nuts.

4-8" tall 1-year-old seedlings

*Ships in spring and fall