White Oak – Hardwood

May 19, 2024

Maryland

Tree #2/50

The state tree of Maryland is White Oak.  White Oak are very important trees.  For wildlife, they make a nutritious seed (acorn).  These are consumed by Turkey, deer, bear and more.  White Oak acorns are the least bitter of all acorns and can be eaten by humans as well.   The lumber of White Oak is naturally waterproof because of a substance called “tilosis” at the cellular level. Only White Oak has these characteristic which is why the lumber is so prized for wine and whiskey barrels. 

There is growing concern about White Oaks not regenerating at the rate we foresters would like to see.   It is unclear why this is the case but throughout the Appalachian Mountains the young Oak are just not being seen.   I recently heard about “The White Oak Initiative” which is putting effort into solving this mystery.  I got to climb a beautiful White Oak at Cunningham Falls state park while visiting the Catoctin Furnace for the Maryland Iron Festival.  Thank you to ranger Mark for picking out a fine specimen of a tree for me.  He and his crew even removed the poison ivy  from the tree a few days before I visited.