Red Oak
Quercus rubra

Height: 50-80´
Habit: rounded

Landscape Value:

The red oak is a good choice for lawn or street, provided the tree is given enough room to reach full size. It is a large and worthy shade tree that is relatively fast-growing for an oak (18-24" a year). Small specimens transplant readily, and the tree is tolerant of city conditions. The red oak is capable of producing a large quantity of acorns, requiring a degree of maintenance, and growing turf beneath its wide-spreading canopy can be difficult. Wildlife relishes the acorns and squirrels will be frequent visitors in most city locations. It does well in most average soils, but slightly acidic conditions are recommended. Very few pests or diseases bother this tree, and other than raking its acorns, homeowners will have few worries.

Seasonal Characteristics:

• Summer: The glossy, dark green leaves are attractive throughout the summer. The dense canopy and symmetrically rounded shape make the red oak an excellent shade tree.
  
  
• Fall: Fall color can be variable. A beautiful bright red is possible, but a dull yellowish-brown is common. Acorn production is inconsistent but can be very heavy in some years.

Points of Interest:

The red oak commonly hybridizes with other oaks in the wild and forms numerous intermediate species. The wood, although not as valuable as the white oak's, is used for rough lumber, flooring, furniture making and railroad ties. This species is similar to the black oak but is probably more desirable in a landscape due to its more uniform shape.

Native Range:

Illinois, northeast and northern states of Midwestern U.S.

Links to Red Oak