Walmart
05.03.2024 - 17:09 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren
How to Grow and Care for Willow Oak Trees Quercus phellos
What would you create if you could cross an oak and a willow? The willow oak!
Not truly a hybrid of the two, it’s an oak through and through, complete with acorns. But you might mistake the narrow leaves for those of a willow.
Willow oak is a favorite of wildlife, making all kinds of birds, as well as squirrels and other herbivores, extremely happy.
Watching the chipmunks and squirrels collect the nuts for storage has to be one of my favorite things to do in the fall.
We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
This isn’t your mother’s oak, though. Well, unless your mother grew one of these.
There are many cultivars that have an upright, narrow growth habit that makes them perfect for parking strips and lots, and planting closer to homes than you might be able to put a tree otherwise.
They’re easy to grow and more resistant to problems than some other species in the Quercus genus, as well.
Let’s talk all things willow oak. Here’s the lineup of what we’ll discuss in this guide:
If you’d like a rundown of all the pros and cons of willow oaks, please visit our guide (coming soon!).
Ready to get growing? Let’s dive in.
Cultivation and HistoryThe willow oak also goes by the names pin, peach, and swamp chestnut oak.
“Quercus” is the Latin word for oak and “phellos” is Latin for cork, a reference to the texture of the bark of older specimens.
But don’t confuse it with Q. suber, which has the common name “cork oak.” The latter is native to Europe and is used to produce the cork you know and love for making boards and sealing wine bottles.
Willow oaks are, as you probably guessed, part of the oak
Oxalis triangularis, also known as false shamrock, is an eye-catching bulbous perennial that makes an excellent and long-lived house plant. Bold, dramatic foliage in shades of dark purple to wine-red creates a striking contrast to blush-white flowers borne in summer. The leaves are three-lobed, hence the name of shamrock which it resembles, though is not actually related to. Oxalis triangularis is native to from Brazil. Its leaves have extra fascination because they open during the day and close at night.
Are Violets Edible? How to Choose and Use These Sweet Treats
Acidanthera (Acidanthera murielae syn. Gladiolus murielae) – also known as the Abyssinian gladiolus, callianthus, sword lily or peacock lily – is a graceful summer-flowering perennial. It has erect grass-like leaves and slender stems up to 1m tall, each one bearing several nodding, funnel-shaped, white flowers with purple throats. The flowers are attractive to a range of pollinators, including bees, which visit for nectar and pollen.
Goji berries (Lycium barbarum) are a popular ‘superfood’ to eat fresh or dried. Native to China, they’re packed with vitamins and antioxidants and have been used in Chinese medicine for over a thousand years. They’re easy to grow at home in the UK and bear fruit after just one or two years. The best thing about growing your own goji berries is that you can eat them straight from the bush – most commercially available goji berries are dried.
Peace lily, Spathiphyllum wallisii, is a popular, low-maintenance house plant with glossy, green leaves and white flowers, called spathes. Native to Central America, it’s used to a warm, humid environment and is perfect for growing in a bright bathroom. Peace lilies are easy to grow and relatively trouble-free.
Tips for Growing Cayenne Peppers Capsicum annuum ‘Cayenne’
How to Identify and Manage Soft Rot in Lettuce
Tips for Growing Tulips in Warm Climates
Common juniper (Juniperus communis) is one of only three conifers native to the UK. It’s a member of the cypress family and grows on chalk or limestone in lowland areas, and moors, woodland and cliffs in northern Britain. Juniper is in decline in wild populations and has been designated a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. This special tree has disappeared from several areas in the south of England. Many remaining colonies are so small that they’re considered functionally extinct. Scotland is now the stronghold for 80 per cent of the UK’s juniper trees.
The beautiful balcony plants on the terrace at the London house of Henrietta Courtauld of the Land Gardeners
How to Identify and Treat 5 Common Arugula Diseases