Willow Oak (Peach-leaved Oak)
Quercus phellos · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Linear to lanceolate with a tapered base and pointed tip
Margin
Entire (smooth, without teeth or lobes)
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate with a prominent yellowish midrib and fine secondary veins branching out.
Key Features
Unlobed, narrow, linear-lanceolate leaves with an entire margin that strongly resemble a willow leaf rather than a traditional oak leaf.
Description
The Willow Oak is a medium to large deciduous tree known for its unusually narrow, willow-like leaves that lack the characteristic lobes of most other oaks. It develops a dense, rounded crown, dark grey bark that becomes rough and furrowed with age, and small acorns that are heavily utilized by wildlife.
Habitat
Typically found in lowlands, floodplains, along streams, and in poorly drained moist soils, though it adapts well to urban environments and drier uplands.
Native Range
Native to the coastal plain and lower piedmont regions of the eastern and southeastern United States, ranging from New York south to northern Florida, and west to Texas.
Notes
In Sumter South Carolina