Willow Oak
Quercus phellos · Hardwood · North America
Properties
| Janka hardness | 1,460 lbf (6,494 N) |
|---|---|
| Average dried weight (est.) | 43 lb/ft³ (690 kg/m³) |
| Specific gravity | 0.69 |
| Modulus of rupture | 14,500 psi (100.0 MPa) |
| Modulus of elasticity | 1.90 million psi (13.10 GPa) |
| Crushing strength | 7,040 psi (48.5 MPa) |
| Shrinkage — radial | 5.0% |
| Shrinkage — tangential | 9.6% |
| Shrinkage — volumetric | 18.9% |
| Shrinkage T/R ratio | 1.9 |
Values at 12% moisture content, clear-wood averages. Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021), Table 5–3b p. 5–11; shrinkage Table 4–3 p. 4–8.
Willow oak is a heavy southern member of the red oak group (specific gravity 0.69, Janka hardness 1,460 lbf) — one of the densest red oaks in this dataset. Its lumber enters the same red oak stream used for flooring, furniture, and millwork.
Appearance & grain
Willow oak is a red oak: nearly white sapwood about 1 to 2 inches wide and brown heartwood tinged with red. The pores are open, and broad rays show conspicuously on quartersawn faces.
Workability
As a red oak, willow oak lumber shrinks a fairly high amount in drying and needs careful seasoning. Its open pores rule it out for tight cooperage unless the vessel is lined.
Common uses
- Flooring
- Furniture
- Millwork
- Railroad crossties
- Mine timbers
- Fence posts
- Veneer
- Boxes
- Pallets and crates
- Agricultural implements
- Caskets
- Woodenware
- Handles
- Railroad cars
- Boats
- Pulpwood
- Fuelwood
Conservation: IUCN Red List: Least Concern (checked 2026-10-24).
Work with Willow Oak
Similar woods
Photo: Cossey25 · CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
Property data: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook — Wood as an Engineering Material, FPL-GTR-282 (2021).