Could be. If so, it should blooms "soon" assuming the invisible flower buds made it through the winter. Impossible to tell the variety without blooms although this would tell you its size at maturity. Some can get large and others are compact/dwarfs. It does not appear to be a problem at this point (it is obviously small). Can you ask the landscapers?

Thanks to all for weighing in...hard to judge the percentage of leaf drop, maybe 5% but it was strange that it happened so suddenly and concentrated in a 23-36 hr period. After that barely any more but my lawn is littered with leaves. There is some dieback on individual branches, so when you look up at the tree you see a fair number of branches that are bare for about 24 inches. Grass around the tree is fine, 3 other white oaks in the same grouping all in a big hosta bed that is very healthy. The oak is at the back of my 2 acres and the ashes were all lining my lane & drive way at the front of the property, so it's a good distance separating them. The extension service had a bag of leaves they had just received from another local resident with the same problem....white oak, sudden leaf drop, blackened petioles. Their best advice was for both of us send down samples to the University of Illinois Plant Clinic in Urbana to see if they can identify the problem. Any help please....

I cannot fully explain how truly beautiful the bed is...I love the concept of using the rubber wood and to see the Japanese joinery in action is something else. My husband was very surprised at how easily and quickly this bed was assembled, and the price was much lower than other beds I had considered. As for the storage beds, we bought one for my son and it has almost negated his closet. I considered one for us and actually was pretty set on it until we made some upgrades to our closets and bought a better dresser. In the end, I felt the storage bed would make the room feel "heavier" and I decided against it. I'm glad I did because we love the Thuma bed. Good luck! Your closets are beautiful.

when exactly planted... was it dormant or leafed out.. how did you plant it.. how did you water at planting.. how have you watered since.. does you soil drain.. did you perc the soil.. did you amend... 2.5 caliper.. did the seller plant it.. what does he say did you consider water gators??? that very insignificant damage for a HUGE transplant .. and if that is all that is wrong with the tree.. i dont think you have anything to complain nor worry about ... bottom line.. i had to have been field grown.. so 98% of its roots were cut off when it was balled and burlapped... and it will take 2 to 5 years to regrow the lost root mass.. and all you can or need to do is water properly until it start growing to specs ... and in the mean time.. a little leaf uglies is nbd... ken