Leaf guide › Oaks
White oak
Quercus alba
Deep burgundy late in the season, and often still holding its leaves into winter.
- Fall color
- PurpleBronzeRed
- Turns
- Late
- Leaves
- Alternate (one per spot)
- Size
- 4–8 in. long
- Found in
- New England & New York, Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest
How to recognize it
- Seven to nine rounded, finger-like lobes with no bristle tips.
- Underside is pale, almost whitish.
- Turns wine red to purplish brown late in fall.
- Dry brown leaves often cling to the branches through winter.
Where to find it
Look for it in upland forests and old pastures, and as a big, wide-spreading tree in parks, cemeteries, and old farmyards.
Where you’ll see it this fall
White oak is one of the main trees in the fall color at these destinations. Dates are the typical peak.
Massachusetts: Hyannis (Oct 28)
Easy to confuse with
Worth knowing
White oak acorns mature in a single season and are sweeter than red oak acorns, which makes them a favorite of deer, turkeys, and squirrels. It’s the state tree of Illinois, Maryland, and Connecticut. Young white oaks often hold their brown leaves well into winter.
Common questions
What color does white oak turn in fall?
White oak turns deep burgundy to purple-red, fading to russet and tan.
When does white oak change color?
Late. It’s one of the later trees to color, often after the maples have passed peak.
How can you tell white oak from northern red oak?
Northern red oak: Pointed lobes with tiny bristles at the tips. White oak: Seven to nine rounded, finger-like lobes with no bristle tips.
Where does white oak grow?
In the lower 48, look for it in New England & New York, the Appalachians, the Mid-Atlantic, the Southeast, and the Midwest.
See where the color is peaking today.
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