C: Willow Oak

A medium-sized, long-lived hardwood tree, the Willow Oak is native to the mid-Atlantic and southern central United States. It prefers to live in humid areas near bodies of water. This tree produces lots of acorns each year, which makes it an important food source for many wildlife species including squirrels, deer, ducks, turkey, blue jays, and woodpeckers.

Unlike other oak species, the Willow Oak’s unique leaves are not lobed. Instead, they are long and thin, like willow leaves. Its bark is smooth and gray, and develops ridges and furrows with age.