This tree is often mistakenly called pin oak in reference to the long, slender leaves. Like Nuttall, willow oak can tolerate a duration of flooding, but not quite as long as Nuttall. The tradeoff being willow oak has a very small acorn that ducks can easily gobble up. Not just for ducks…willow oak works equally well on a wide range of planting sites, and provides a consistent crop of carb rich seed on a yearly basis. We think they produce large quantities of acorns much like cherry tomatoes or crabapples produce loads of fruit. Just a hunch, but it makes sense. The Willow oak grows best on elevated terraces in bottomland hardwoods.