The American White Oak is a hardwood unique to North America and is among the most popular species from the United States hardwood forests in export markets. The name ‘White Oak’ encompasses numerous species, and these trees grow throughout most of the eastern United States in mixed hardwood forests. The trees are tall, and can typically reach heights of up to 30 metres at maturity, with a massive canopy and rounded leaf form, which turns brown in the fall.

There are remarkable variations in white oaks depending on location, in particular between the slower grown northern and faster grown southern trees. The American White Oak has light-coloured sapwood and a light to dark brown heartwood. It is mostly straight-grained with a medium to coarse texture, with large distinctive growth rings.