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Sugar Maple (Hard Maple) vs White Oak
Quercus alba
Acer saccharum
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.
Sugar Maple is a large, deciduous tree known for its brilliant fall yellow, orange, and red-orange color display.
This long-lived shade tree features unique "maple"
lobed leaves.
Note: this Zone 4 tree is unlikely to produce commercially viable sap on the prairies.