Oaks Quercus rubra
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Oaks:
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus RUBE-ruh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Northern Red Oak is a deciduous tree that may grow 60 to 90 feet tall and is found throughout the Piedmont and mountain areas of NC. It commonly grows on mesic slopes and well-drained uplands, on lower and middle slopes, in coves, ravines or valley floors. It is most commonly found on N- and E- facing slopes, and on clay, loam, and sandy or gravelly soils.
The leaves are alternate with 7 to 11 bristle-tipped lobes. The bark is smooth on young trees but as it ages, wide, flat-topped ridges and shallow furrows develop. The shallow furrows form a pattern resembling ski tracts. In spring, yellow-green, cylindrical, male flowers and small, green, female spikes mature. The tree produces a 3/4- to 1-inch acorn with a flat, thick cap that covers about 1/4 the nut. The acorn requires two growing seasons to reach maturity. Northern red oak generally first bear fruits at 20-25 years but don’t produce acorns in abundance until 40-50 years.
This plant is tolerant of urban conditions including dry and acidic soil and air pollution. It sustains the best growth in full sunlight with well-drained, slightly acidic, sandy loam. Use as a shade tree, street tree and in recreational areas.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to oak wilt and chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves while the veins remain green) which can occur when soil is not sufficiently acidic.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Aurea'
This selection features young leaves with a golden yellow color. This effect will probably fade with the onset of hot weather - 'Splendens'
Notable for its fine red fall color. It is not commonly available.
- 'Aurea'
- 'Aurea', 'Splendens'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aurea'
This selection features young leaves with a golden yellow color. This effect will probably fade with the onset of hot weather - 'Splendens'
Notable for its fine red fall color. It is not commonly available.
- 'Aurea'
- 'Aurea', 'Splendens'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- rubra
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The acorns of red oak (and other oak species) were an important food source for Native Americans. Some tribes are known to have used the bark as medicine for heart troubles and bronchial infections. It was also used as an astringent, disinfectant, and cleanser. The lumber is used for furniture, veneer, interior finishing, cabinets, paneling, and flooring as well as for agricultural implements, posts, and railway ties
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America and Eastern Canada
- Distribution:
- Throughout central and eastern USA and into Canada. Found found north to Minnesota, west to Nebraska, south to Alabama, and east to coast.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low 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 small mammals, wild turkeys white-tailed deer and black bears.
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Edible fruit
- Screening
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire and moderately resistant to damage from deer.
- Edibility:
- Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 90 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 60 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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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:
- Produces 1-inch long acorns singly or in pairs on a very short stem. The wide cap covers the upper 1/4 of the nut. The tree may reach 40 years of age before producing acorns. Displays from August to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- It produces pollen flowers in drooping, elongated clusters. Blooms from April to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The 7-inch leaves are divided less than halfway to the mid-vein into 7–11 shallow wavy lobes with a few irregular bristle- tipped teeth. The leaves are glabrous and dull green above and light dull green below with tufts of hairs in the vein angles. Fall color is usually brick red to scarlet and very attractive.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- The bark is dark gray or black which is shallowly furrowed into broad hard scaly ridges. The inner bark is reddish to pink.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Bark on young branches is brown and smooth
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Drought
- Fire
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
