A superstar tree of which you might not be familiar is the Mexican white oak (Quercus polymorpha), also known as Coahuila oak, Mexican oak, Monterrey oak, Monterrey white oak or net-leaf white oak (underlined being the more common alternative brand names). If you’re looking for a fast growing, hardy shade tree that grows in a multitude of soil types and conditions, this may be the tree for which you’ve been looking.
MWO is classified as a semi-evergreen tree. Depending on your environment, it can be deciduous, or deciduous like a live oak, having leaves throughout winter, dropping many leaves in the spring followed by immediate replacement. They have great drought resistance, a 100+ year lifespan, and grow around 4’ a year when other white oaks average around 2’. Typical urban area height is around 45-50’, but in more rural areas, 60-65’ is more common.
MWO maintenance is minimal, but pruning younger trees is necessary to remove low growing limbs. This helps to ensure a healthy canopy. Again, MWOs are very hardy, have great drought tolerance, and have a far better chance at survival than their competitors. Also, I’ve said before that fast-growing trees are usually trash trees with weak wood, numerous pests/diseases, and a short life span, but MWOs are the
exception. With its canopy, it’s also an excellent cooling, shade tree. MWOs as noted survive in a variety of soils. Thus, it can aid in soil stabilization and offers a bountiful supply of acorns to sustain wildlife populations in the fall. Relax folks. They’re small acorns! MWOs are a relatively newcomer, so they aren’t easy to find. Talk to your local nursery about ordering a live plant or some acorns to plant
this winter. I have a granddaughter in Austin on the lookout – Lots of MWO in Austin.
