White Oak Tree Seeds | Quercus alba
White Oak Tree Seeds | Quercus alba
The king of eastern hardwoods. The tree that built a nation.
Quercus alba, the White Oak, is the backbone of eastern North America’s forests and one of the most valuable hardwoods ever grown. Its sweet acorns fuel entire ecosystems. Its wood has shaped American history, from shipbuilding to bourbon barrels. Its canopy defines landscapes for centuries. Plant one, and you are not just growing a tree. You are establishing a legacy.
- Produces sweet, low-tannin acorns favored by deer, turkey, bear, and over 180 wildlife species
- Premier hardwood for furniture, flooring, and cooperage
- Extremely long-lived, often exceeding 500 years
- Forms a massive, wide-spreading canopy
- Supports over 500 species of caterpillars, making it a keystone wildlife tree
Things You Probably Didn’t Know
It defines American bourbon.
By law, bourbon must be aged in new charred White Oak barrels. The wood releases compounds that create the signature vanilla, caramel, and oak flavors.
Its acorns are ready immediately.
White Oak acorns mature in one season and are low in tannins, making them a preferred and immediate food source for wildlife.
It helped win a war.
The USS Constitution was built with White Oak so dense that cannonballs reportedly bounced off its hull.
It drives wildlife population cycles.
In mast years, a single mature tree can drop tens of thousands of acorns, fueling entire food chains.
Growing Details
- Botanical Name: Quercus alba
- Stratification: Required; 30–60 days cold moist stratification (recalcitrant, keep moist)
- USDA Zones: 3–9
- Soil: Well-drained, deep, slightly acidic; highly adaptable
- Light: Full sun
- Height: 60–100 feet
- Spread: 60–100 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow to moderate (1–1.5 ft/year)
Plant a White Oak and make a decision for the next five centuries. Very few investments compound that well.
FAQ
FAQ
Do you pre-stratify the seeds?
Most of our seeds are not pre-stratified. They are stored under dry, cold conditions to preserve viability without initiating stratification, allowing you to time germination for your local growing season.
The exception is recalcitrant seeds. Because these seeds must remain moist to stay viable, they are kept in moist, cold storage and are therefore in a pre-stratified state. Depending on how long a particular batch has been stored, some may arrive with an emerging radicle and be ready to plant immediately. Radicle development is not guaranteed.
Please refer to the individual product page and included growing instructions for species-specific requirements.
Do any of your seeds need to stay moist? (Recalcitrant seeds)
Yes. Some species we offer, including Chestnut, Hazelnut, and Paw Paw, are recalcitrant and must remain moist to stay viable.
Please refrigerate these seeds immediately upon arrival unless they have already developed a radicle. Seeds with an emerging radicle should be planted promptly.
Do you ship internationally?
No. We currently ship within the United States only.
We previously shipped to Canada, but tariffs, duties, and import fees resulted in customers receiving significant and unpredictable additional charges upon delivery. Because we cannot reliably calculate or absorb these costs, we have suspended shipping to Canada.
At this time, we do not ship to Canada or other international destinations.
Shipping & What's Included
Shipping & What's Included
Shipping & Packaging
• Hand-packed in resealable kraft paper seed bags
• Stratification and planting instructions included on every seed pack
• Ships within 3–5 business days via USPS within the United States and U.S. territories
Return Policy
Return Policy
Due to the nature of our products, we do not accept returns on seeds.
If your order arrives damaged, contains incorrect items, or is missing items, please contact us within 7 days of delivery so we can resolve the issue.
