Swamp White Oak is a large tree of wet areas. Rare in North Carolina, near the southern limit of its range, it generally grows in areas with basic bedrock; it has been found in six counties in the Piedmont, two in the Coastal Plain.

Similar to Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii), but the leaves are less regularly lobed; similar to White Oak (Quercus alba), but the leaf undersides are white-hairy. A hybrid White Oak × Swamp Chestnut Oak might be difficult to tell apart from a Swamp White Oak.

Planted specimen, Portland, OR 7/30/06.

The bark is similar to that of White Oak and Swamp Chestnut Oak.

Planted specimen, Portland, OR 7/30/06.