Like bluff oak, Durand is a rather unsung favorite of ours that frequents our prairie soils.   Durand oak can be confusing to identify, hence its nickname, “bastard” white oak, as it appears to have water oak leaves with white oak bark.  Some taxonomists believe Durand oak might have evolved from live oak, and others believe it’s a variety of bluff oak with less lobing on the leaves.  Only God knows for sure, so for now “it is what it is.”

Durand oak is very sight plastic, and can be found anywhere from old pasture hilltops to the best bottomland hardwood sights.  It will also tolerate alkaline clays, where it is commonly found near our nursery headquarters.  The acorns are low in tannins, rendering them a highly preferred mast of deer and other wildlife, including the yellow lab we busted eating ‘em out of our buckets on collection day.

We’ve got a few test trees planted well above its northern limit, but for now let’s keep it in its recommended zones with a little extra lime on acid soil types.