Mendel’s Gardens

Quercus phellos

Willow Oak

Family FagaceaeGenus Quercus

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Safety

Toxicity
Poisonous to horse, cattle. Acorns, young leaves. Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin. Stated for Quercus spp.Plants Poisonous to Livestock
Toxicity
Low severity. Leaves, Seeds. Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

The plant

Habit
TreePlant Finder
Habit
Perennial, TreePLANTS Database
Height
40-75 ftPlant Finder
Height
100.0 ftPLANTS Database
Spread
25-50 ftPlant Finder
Flower
Insignificant; yellow-greenPlant Finder
Flower
YellowPLANTS Database
Blooms
AprilPlant Finder
Blooms
Mid SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
Southeastern United StatesPlant Finder
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
5-9Plant Finder
Note
Tolerates clay, wet soil and city air.Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunPlant Finder
Sun
Shade tolerance: HighPLANTS Database
Soil
Average, medium to wet, well-drainedPlant Finder
Moisture
Medium to wetPlant Finder
Moisture
Moisture use: HighPLANTS Database
Watering
Medium to wetPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Plants Poisonous to Livestock — Cornell University Department of Animal Science; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Protocol

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    One of thirteen, on the second day.

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 2 days to germinate.

8% germination in 2 days.

One acorn of thirteen, on the second day of the third period. The only run Deno reports.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, QuercusPublic domain
Show the original text
Quercus (Fagaceae). Q. borealis, macrocarpa, and velutina were reported to be 40-70 germinators (ref. 28, Ch. 10). Q. phellos germ. 70-40-70(1/13 on 2nd d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Quercus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.