Legacy Oaks
Webster Groves Rotary Club
Century Oaks Project
Webster Groves is known for a diverse over-story of 100- to 250-year-old oaks. Webster Groves Rotary estimates there are more than 150 Century Oaks that shade our Webster Groves streets, homes, and parks…and lower our urban temperature. Oaks are formidable carbon-sequestering trees.
Last fall, the Rotary Club collected acorns from ten different species of our oldest and largest oak trees that we call our Legacy Oaks. These long-lived trees have proven adaptivity to Webster Groves. However, many are entering the last phase of their long life spans, so it is now time to renew the Webster Groves oak canopy.
The Rotary Club is accepting orders for two- to five-foot-high potted progeny saplings of these landmark Legacy Oaks, which are being grown professionally by Forrest Keeling Nursery in Elsberry, Missouri. This fall, we will have first-year oak saplings from the following Webster Groves Legacy Oak species:
- Black Oak
- Bur Oak
- Pin Oak
- Post White Oak
- Shingle Oak
- Shumard Oak
- Swamp White Oak
- White Oak
- White Oak hybrid
- Willow Oak
The Rotary Club is taking orders now by species included on the above list. The cost is $50 for each progeny Legacy Oak Tree in a 3-gallon pot. ORDER EARLY. SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED!
We will not know until September how many of each species will be available, nor the height of the potted saplings. However, the expected range is 2 to 5 feet, depending on species.
We will fulfill orders of each species by order date. If we run out of a species, then we will give you the opportunity to select another species from the inventory. We expect to make delivery between mid-September and mid-October, which is the ideal time for fall planting.
Pickup will be scheduled at the Webster Groves Recreation Center on a date to be announced this fall. We will send an email to each order, as soon as we know the delivery date.
Place your order by completing the downloadable form (see link in menu to the left) and mail to: Rotary Club of Webster Groves, 45 West Lockwood, Webster Groves, MO 63119. You may also email your form to: websterlegacytrees@gmail.com
OR you may order on-line through this Webster Groves Rotary Club link:
One day, these oaks will be the future giants and landmarks of Webster Groves. Select a location that will add shade and character to your neighborhood and streets. We recommend planting at least 10 to 20 feet from the street, driveway, sidewalks, home, or another tree.
Oak Species Descriptions (Information Source “Trees Of Missouri “ by Don Kurz)
- Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
Appearance: Medium-sized tree, up to 70 feet tall, with a wide spreading, open crown and tall straight trunk.
- Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa Michaux)
Appearance: Medium to large tree, up to 80 feet tall, with a broad-spreading, rounded crown, a massive trunk, and low, large-spreading branches.
- Pin Oak (Quercus palustris Muenchh)
Appearance: Large tree, up to 100 feet tall, with a tall straight trunk and a pyramid-shaped crown.
- Post White Oak (Quercus stella Wangenh)
Appearance: Small to medium-sized tree, up to 70-80 feet tall, with broad, rounded crown and stout branches that are sometimes contorted.
- Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria Michaux)
Appearance: Medium-sized tree, up to 80 feet tall, with a straight trunk and an open, broadly rounded crown.
- Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii Buckley)
Appearance: Medium to large-sized tree, up to 100 feet tall, with a tall, straight trunk, stout branches, and a large, open crown.
- Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor Willd)
Appearance: Medium-sized tree, up to 80 feet tall, with an open, irregularly rounded crown, ascending upper branches, and somewhat pendulous lower branches.
- White Oak (Quercus alba L. )
Large tree, up to 120 feet tall, with a long, straight trunk and broad, rounded crown.
- White Oak Hybrid (Quercus alba - with some red oak characteristics)
Appearance: Large tree, up to 100 feet tall with a massive, straight trunk and a broad, rounded crown. West side of city hall…progeny to be donated to the city for public use.
- Willow Oak (Quercus phellos L.)
Appearance: Medium to large-sized tree, up to 80 feet tall, with a dense, pyramid-shaped crown, becoming more rounded with age, a straight clear trunk, and willow-like leaves.