What is this tree?

[Elmore]

If it ain't a ginkgo or a A. palmatum he's just another bozo on the bus. :umpkin: Just messin witcha brad.

Hey thanks Guy but I am just guessing. I have a water oak that someone gave me and said it was a live oak hybrid and was puzzled about it for years until recently. It had similar leaves to that in question but is now a full blown water oak. I have seen many young trees, water oaks with immature pinnately lobed leaves resembling a willow oak. Typically they are broader, up to about 2" across. Willow oak has a more acute apex with a bristle at the tip and are narrower, up to 1" across. It does look much like Q. laurifolia, my next guess but I have none around here to compare to. The bark on a mature water oak is smooth and gray. If after about six years the leaves don't take on the spatulate form I would say that it is not Quercus nigra.

<img src="http://www.electricwomen.com/NYC/images/14g-clowns-in-times-sq5.jpg"width=450>

 

[jay]

I have lots of water oaks on my property. Even the 7 ft ones still have the traditional "water oak" leaves. It is not a water oak and it definetly does not look like the traditional "live oaks" on my property either. I need to get more pics. I will say this, it has a straight tall trunk and no signifigant limbs. All the limbs seem to be scrawny. Tall straight trunk with scrawny limbs seems to be a major characteristic of this tree and other trees of the same species on my property.

 

[jay]

Here are some more pics.

 

[jay]

Ok, I have even more pics. However, I think I have a pic that may finally provide a good ID on this tree. I noticed that brand new leaves start out lobed and only the mature leaves are untoothed simple leaves. However, the mature leaves are not all 100% untoothed , a random slight lobe on one side of the leave or the other can be detectected on some of the leaves. It is almost like leaves from 2 different trees on one tree. I really hope these new pics help out. I want to identify this tree.

 

[texasnative]

That tree is still Quercus phellos

 

[treeseer]

That tree is still Quercus phellos

tex I've seen 1000's of phellos, never seen lobes. I won't respond further since jay thinks I'm threatening his life when I tell him/her to get out to the local botanical garden. Besides, s/he's gotten the right answer already. :angel:

 

[Elmore]

Aha...Q. nigra...Water Oak!

 

[jay]

It is Laurel Oak, I have confirmation on it.

 

[treeseer]

It is Laurel Oak, I have confirmation on it.

That was first stated in Post #10 and seconded in Post #16. 12 posts later you finally buy in.

There are several certified arborists in your area; please hire one. That would save you and everyone all this pointless guessing , and confirm for you not only the (often misleading, plus oaks hybridize in nature) common names of your trees but how to grow them into lasting assets. After all the trees don't care about names, only growing.

 

[Lumberjack]

Nice "D in the F" Guy.

More patient than I.

 

[rb_in_va]

tex I've seen 1000's of phellos, never seen lobes. I won't respond further since jay thinks I'm threatening his life when I tell him/her to get out to the local botanical garden.

I thought going to the botanical garden was a great idea. There's likely to be a few people there that know the local flora.

jay, where did you get confirmation?

 

[darkstar]

that aint no willow oak ....

 

[jay]

darkstar, you are correct, it is not a willow oak. It is a Laurel Oak Quercus Laurifolia Michx.