White Oak vs American Elm - TreeTime.ca

White Oak vs American Elm

Ulmus americana

Quercus alba

American Elm
White Oak

American Elm is fast growing, tall tree with a recognizable and pleasing shape.

It's well suited for urban environments because of its non-invasive roots and ability to grow on harsh sites (quite salt tolerant). American Elm develops a wide, dense canopy that provides shade for many city streets around North America.

White Oak is large, long-lived tree with an irregular trunk divided into spreading, often horizontal, stout branches. A highly adaptable tree, White Oak features green acorns and beautiful green leaves that turn red-purple in the fall.

With a huge growth in bourbon and scotch over the past few decades there is an emerging shortage of white oak that is the primary tree used for cask barrels and aging.

Note: Most Oak species can be considered toxic for many animals.

American Elm Quick Facts

White Oak Quick Facts

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Zone: 2a
Zone: 4a
Height: 30 m (98 ft)
Height: 30 m (98 ft)
Spread: 15 m (50 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: very long
Life span: long
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: red-pink changing to bright yellow-green
Fall colour: bright yellow
Fall colour: dark red
Nuts: acorns
Seeds: samara
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, PE
Native to: ON, QC
Other Names: water elm, whilte elm