Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Northern red oaks are native to south central and southeastern Canada, and the central and eastern United States, as far south as Georgia. Their dense crowns and rapid growth rate -- up to two feet per year -- make them very desirable as shade trees. They offer great value to wildlife. The Northern red oak is the state tree of New Jersey.
Northern red oaks are extremely hardy and well adapted to difficult urban growing conditions, including polluted air and compacted soils. They require at least six hours of direct sun per day and are somewhat tolerant of drought and salt. They do not do well in alkaline soils (those with a pH over 7.5). Because they develop a taproot, Northern red oaks are more difficult to transplant than their close relatives, the pin oaks. In past years, some Northern red oaks have succumbed to oak wilt, a fatal and incurable fungal disease. To avoid spreading the disease, all pruning should be done outside of the growing season.
Physical characteristics:
Form: Rounded crown. Grows 60 to 75 feet high, 50 to 60 feet wide.
Leaves: Alternating, 5 to 8 inches long, with 7 to 11 lobes, pointed teeth and long bristles at end of leaf and at tips of teeth. Leaves are waxy and shiny on the upper surface, slightly hairy beneath. Mid rib and primary veins are conspicuous. Leaves turn a russet red in autumn.
Flowers: Yellow-green catkins that appear with new foliage in spring
Fruit: Round acorns, ¾ to 1” long with a flat, thick saucer-like, scaly cup or cupule.
Bark: Reddish gray becoming dark brown with age. The bark ridges are broad and rounded with shiny stripes at their centers. Stripes run down all the way to the base of the tree.
Check out Pin Oak>>
Northern red oaks are extremely hardy and well adapted to difficult urban growing conditions, including polluted air and compacted soils. They require at least six hours of direct sun per day and are somewhat tolerant of drought and salt. They do not do well in alkaline soils (those with a pH over 7.5). Because they develop a taproot, Northern red oaks are more difficult to transplant than their close relatives, the pin oaks. In past years, some Northern red oaks have succumbed to oak wilt, a fatal and incurable fungal disease. To avoid spreading the disease, all pruning should be done outside of the growing season.
Physical characteristics:
Form: Rounded crown. Grows 60 to 75 feet high, 50 to 60 feet wide.
Leaves: Alternating, 5 to 8 inches long, with 7 to 11 lobes, pointed teeth and long bristles at end of leaf and at tips of teeth. Leaves are waxy and shiny on the upper surface, slightly hairy beneath. Mid rib and primary veins are conspicuous. Leaves turn a russet red in autumn.
Flowers: Yellow-green catkins that appear with new foliage in spring
Fruit: Round acorns, ¾ to 1” long with a flat, thick saucer-like, scaly cup or cupule.
Bark: Reddish gray becoming dark brown with age. The bark ridges are broad and rounded with shiny stripes at their centers. Stripes run down all the way to the base of the tree.
Check out Pin Oak>>
