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Swamp White Oak Leaves Not Dropping - Normal?

7 years ago

I have a variety of younger (10< yrs) oaks in my yard that I have planted; Bur, Red, White, Shumard, and a Swamp White Oak. Despite being in a clear area that gets buffeted by a lot of wind, the Swamp has not lost many of it's now brown leaves, unlike the others. It's been healthy enough. I'm wondering if there is a reason why it would not lose leaves as quickly as the others?

I'm sure there is a good reason which some of the experts here will know...

Thanks!

Vince

Featured Answer

kentrees12

7 years ago

The trait of holding dead foliage over winter and gradually losing it toward spring is called marcescent. It occurs on juvenile trees and on the lower limbs of adult trees. It is most often seen on beech, oak, chestnut, hornbeam, ironwood, and sugar maple. Not all individuals possess this trait, some lose it as they age, and some never lose it.

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Comments (11)

User
7 years ago
I'm no expert but according to this resource

'Swamp white oak tends to hold its leaves after fall coloration and they fall off gradually through the winter months.'
farmboy1 thanked User
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Poaky - not entirely sure what your first post means. I think the soil and roots are doing just fine for this tree. I think we all agree to set the tree free and that's what I will do. Here's an example of one of the trees I planted this spring that has no support lines. This tree was labeled as a 'project' by the nursery because someone chopped the top off at some point. Because of the fantastic price, we added it last minute to a purchase of 2 other N Red Oaks. This one is called the orphan because of the 'project' label and how we added him on a whim to our purchase - we felt sorry for him. :) This tree may be doing the best of any of the three I bought that day this past spring. You can see the SWO that started this thread towards the left edge of this pic in the distance. This post was edited by JD_MN on Wed, Aug 28, 13 at 10:40
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be nice to know where you are.. and what the weather has been since planting .. also your soil type might help ... water sure wouldnt hurt .. but it has to get deep into the root ball planted ... if you dont know the size.. we need to see the whole tree to guess for you ... call the city and ask their advice one thing for sure.. they arent hungry ... no fert .. i dont rule out disease.. but i highly doubt that is the base issue.. they have not been properly watered since planting ... ken
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farmboy1
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks, Ken! I've been curious, and one of my neighbors asked me why and now I know.
Logan L Johnson
7 years ago
That's what I was going to say, Ken. I didn't know the term for it though. Thanks for the moment of learning.
farmboy1 thanked Logan L Johnson
farmboy1
Original Author
7 years ago
Yeah, that ten-dollar word will really convince the neighbors that I'm nutty about trees! In a good way, of course!
Logan L Johnson
7 years ago
My neighbors think I'm nutty as well. I guess somewhat in a good way and bad LOL
Mike McGarvey
7 years ago
I avoid planting any tree that slowly looses it's leaves over the Winter. If there's any leaf raking to be done I want it over as quickly as possible and as few times as possible as well. Raking leaves when the crocus are coming up is slow and tedious. Brown leaves hanging on in a tree are not attractive to me.

Kentrees12, I have some ironwood trees, Parrotia persica, that do just as you say. The older one has lost it's leaves and the smaller ones are still retaining theirs. Marcescent is one of those words that usually should have an explanation....even here. Thanks, Ken.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
7 years ago
This trait is harnessed over here for formal hedges. Even though they are strictly- speaking deciduous, beech and hornbeam are often used as hedges because they remain impenetrable to the eye even in the winter.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years ago
many oaks hold their leaves until the buds start to swell in spring ... subject to severe wind and ice storms ... here in my MI ....

looking out my window... my white oak appears to have about 80% of its dead leaves still on ..

logan said: My neighbors think I'm nutty as well.

===>>> its not just limited to your neighbors ... rotflmbo .... ;)

go blue

ken
wisconsitom
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Love the orange-ish, tan-brown of SWO leaves through the winter. I think they finally push off in spring with new growth. Lovely against, snow, conifers, what-have-you.

ETA: oops...didn't see ya there Ken. Yup, um-humh...leaves and Logan, lol!
kentrees12
7 years ago
After 32 years here my neighbors have gotten used to me. When I first moved in they said "there's that crazy Yankee...".

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