Quercus falcata
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus fal-KAY-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Southern Red Oak is a native deciduous tree and is found in all areas of NC up to 2,000 ft. of elevation. It may grow 60 to 100 feet tall and spread 50-60 feet with a broad open rounded form. It is naturally found on poor upland mesic soils in much of eastern and central USA but also occasionally found along streams. It should be grown in full sun to part shade on well-drained, acidic, sandy loam, gravelly or clay loam soils. It is drought tolerant but will tolerate occasional flooding.
Acorns need 2 years to mature as is the norm for red oaks. There are 2 different types of leaves and they are tan and downy on the undersides which contrast nicely with the dark lustrous green on top, especially in the wind.
Use this tree for shade in parks and residential areas. Its drought tolerance makes it especially useful as a street tree. The acorns attract a variety of birds and mammals and like other native oaks, it is a high-value wildlife plant. It is a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis), as well as numerous butterflies, including Banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Edward's hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), White-m hairstreak (Parrhasius malbum), Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius), and Juvenalis duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis).
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: There is a large number of potential problems. Except for oak wilt, no pests or diseases are of major concern. Caterpillars can defoliate trees. Fall cankerworm has been a problem in some years. Banding the trees will help. This tree is susceptible to wind damage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Pagodifolia'
- 'Pagodifolia'
- 'Pagodifolia'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Pagodifolia'
- 'Pagodifolia'
- 'Pagodifolia'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- falcata
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wood is used for general construction, food, furniture, shade and fuel. Native Americans ate the acorns and utilized the southern red oak in a variety of ways to treat illness.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- New Jersey to Florida west to southern Illinois, southern Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Found along the southeast from New Jersey to northern Florida and east along the gulf coast states into Texas.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. The acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, blue jays, white-breasted nuthatches, American crows, small mammals, wild turkey, white-tailed deer and black bear.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Shade
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Wildlife Nesting
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Moderately resistant to damage by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 50 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Oval to round acorn with a bowl-shaped cap that is warty with hairs and covers the top 1/3 of the nut. Acorns require two growing seasons to mature. The fruit is borne solitary or in pairs.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Flowers appear in spring in male catkins and in female clusters
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2 types of leaves are present. One has irregularly 3-5 shaped lobes that are bristle tipped with the terminal lobe being longest and a U-shaped base. One is pear-shaped with 3 rounded lobes towards the end. They are 5-9 inches long and 4-5 inches wide. They remain on the tree late into fall with insignificant reddish brown fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- With age, the thin, smooth light gray bark becomes dark gray in color with broad scaly ridges separated by deep, narrow furrows.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Orange
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Small branches have smooth medium gray bark while twigs are orange-brown, angular, and short-pubescent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Seeds
