Research conducted and descriptions written by Burley Middle School 6th grade students in 2023 with minor editing by RCA staff.
The willow oak tree is an amazing tree that can grow up to 80 feet tall, and it is also known as the peach oak, pink oak, or swamp chestnut oak. Its scientific name is Quercus phellos, It has spiky green leaves, and blooms with yellow green flowers in the spring. It can tolerate pollution and drought, and is generally a very resilient tree. It provides lots of value to wildlife, and produces acorns that are enjoyed by many different bird and mammal species. For humans, it is a great shade tree, and the bark can be used for medicinal purposes like painkillers.
Fun fact: Willow oaks are a very important keystone species because they can support the highest number of different caterpillar species than any other tree, so they help biodiversity of insects and other animals.