Bebb’s Hybrid Oak

This oak is a spontaneously occurring hybrid of the White Oak (Quercus alba) and the Bur Oak (Q. macrocarpa). Natural occurrences are found as far south as St. Louis and as far north as Ontario and Quebec, but primarily within the upper Midwest where both of these species are common. Although it is a relatively common hybrid given the prevalence of these two species, our Bebb’s Hybrid Oak is a cultivar created from a wild seedling found next to a Taco Bell restaurant, its namesake. This cultivar appears more similar to the White Oak than the Bur Oak when identifying, and is impressively resilient in its growth.

The Bebb’s Hybrid Oak is a member of the subgenus of white oaks. These oaks are distinguishable from other oaks from their smooth lobe tips (no awns), their hairless leaf undersides, and their lighter, flakier bark. The acorns of white oaks are also less tannic; in the Bebb’s Hybrid Oak, enough so to be potentially eaten raw.