Summary: Quercus alba (White Oak) is a plant in the Fagaceae family. Verdica documents 16 traditional uses, 88 phytochemical compounds, and 12 herb-drug interactions for this species.
White Oak (Q. alba) is a dynamic accumulator with sweet acorns containing 6% protein and 65% carbohydrates. White oak is potentially valuable for use in reforestation projects and disturbed sites. It has exhibited excellent growth and survival on cast overburden and graded topsoil that overlies mine spoils in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, USA. Cultivated White Oaks are grown for edible seed; trees take about 30 years before they start to bear good crops but continue to yield crops for 120 years. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 8 through 1. Bloom Color: Brown. Form: Pyramidal, Rounded. Quercus species, Oaks are deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs in the beech family, Fagaceae. They are native to the Northern Hemisphere, from cool temperate to tropical areas in North America, Asia, Europe and Africa. North America has over 90 species. Oak trees have characteristic nuts called acorns that follow the inconspicuous flowers. The acorns and leaves contain tannic acid, which protects the tree from fungi and insects. Tannins are used in photography, dyeing, clarifying wine, and as astringents in medicine. Tannins make the acorns slightly acidic or bitter and poisonous to humans. Several oaks have low tannin levels leached out of the acorn to make them edible. Washing the acorns thoroughly in running water removes the water-soluble tannins. The whole acorn is used or dried and ground into a powder first. It can take several days or even weeks to leach the acorns properly. Many oaks can tolerate semi-shade.
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Watering | Moderate — keep soil moist |
| Soil | Well-drained, moist, loamy |
| Hardiness Zone | USDA 3-9 |
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