White oak facts for kids

The white oaks are a group of trees that belong to the Quercus genus, specifically in the Quercus section. These trees are known for their strong wood and often light-colored bark.

White oak can also refer to several different things, including specific tree species, places, and even bodies of water.

What Are White Oak Trees?

Many different kinds of trees are called "white oak." Here are some of the most common ones:

• Quercus alba: This is the tree most people think of when they hear "white oak." It's a very common and important tree in eastern North America.
• Quercus bicolor: This one is called the swamp white oak because it often grows in wet areas.
• Quercus arizonica: Known as the Arizona white oak, it's found in the southwestern United States.
• Quercus garryana: This tree is called the Oregon white oak or Garry oak and grows along the Pacific coast.
• Quercus lobata: The California white oak, also known as the valley oak, is a large tree native to California.
• Quercus polymorpha: This is the Mexican white oak or Monterrey oak, found in Mexico and parts of Texas.
• Lagunaria patersonia: Sometimes called the Queensland white oak, this tree is from Australia.
• Grevillea edelfeltii: This tree, from the Proteaceae family, is found in the rainforests of Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Places Named White Oak

Many towns and communities in the United States are named White Oak, often because of the trees that grew there. Here are some examples:

• White Oak, Georgia
• Whiteoak, Indiana
• White Oak, Kentucky
• White Oak, Maryland
• White Oak, Missouri
• White Oak, North Carolina
• White Oak, Ohio (in Hamilton County)
• White Oak, Brown County, Ohio
• White Oak, Fayette County, Ohio
• White Oak, Oklahoma
• White Oak, Pennsylvania
• White Oak, Texas
• White Oak, Virginia
• White Oak, Raleigh County, West Virginia
• White Oak, Wisconsin
• White Oaks, New Mexico

Water Features Called White Oak

Some rivers, lakes, and other water bodies also share the name White Oak:

• White Oak Bayou in Texas
• White Oak Lake in White Oak Lake State Park, Arkansas
• White Oak Pocosin in North Carolina (A "pocosin" is a type of wetland.)
• White Oak Pond in New Hampshire
• White Oak River in North Carolina
• Whiteoak Creek Falls in North Carolina