Tree Categories: Fall Color Trees, Oak Trees, and Shade Trees
Mature Tree Height: 20-40 feet tall | Mature Tree Width: 10-20 feet wide
Tree Growing Zones: Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, and Zone 8
The Beacon® Oak (Quercus bicolor ‘Bonnie and Mike’) is a medium-sized, adaptable columnar tree. It has a stout, upright and dense branching habit with a narrow canopy that makes it good for smaller spaces. Its foliage emerges light green in the spring and matures to a dark green over the summer before developing an excellent yellow color in the fall.
The Beacon® Oak was found in the Shenandoah valley in 2007 by Bonnie and Michael Dirr for which it was named. J. Frank Schmidt & Sons Co. were the first to introduce it in the industry. This tree is a great option as an adaptable urban street tree or in yards in tight spaces or near houses. It does very well in tough growing areas, especially wet conditions but can also stand some drought. Its fall color and attractive form makes it a pleasant side alongside streets and in the yard. It does best in full sun and tolerates most soil types but prefers acidic moist soils.
