Quercus rubra - Red Oak

General Information Common Name  Red Oak Scientific Name  Quercus rubra Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height  27-45 m (90-150 ft) Spread  10 -15 m (40 - 50 ft) Growth Rate  Fast Bloom Time  Spring Color  Green, Red Flower Color  Yellow Type  Tree Native  America, Europe

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class  Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass  Hamamelididae Order  Fagales Family  Fagaceae – Beech family Genus  Quercus L. – Oak Species  Q. rubra

Quercus rubra - Red Oak

Quercus rubra common name is Red Oak. It is graceful round-headed tree with light grey bark, is one of the several North AmericanRed Oaks which have been planted in Europe as a amenity tree on account of the beauty of its autumn foliage. It grows 27-45 m (90-150 ft) in height. More recently it has been planted experimentally for it timber.

The young shoots are rather stout, often five-sided and olive-green to reddish-brown. The brown winter buds are alternately arranged, but towards the tip of the twigs they form clusters. The leaves are larger than those of European native Oaks and have sharply angled lobes. They vary in size and shape and the vein of each lobe projects as a bristle beyond the point. At first the leaves are a pale yellow, later green, and in autumn they turn a dull to rich red-brown.

The flowers of both sexes appear on the same tree in May. The male catkins are yellowish-green, long and sometimes very numerous; the female flowers are shortly stalked. The acorns, which do not mature until the second year, are dumpy and flat-based, standing in shallow cups.

The light grey bark remains smooth for a long time. Only after many years does it develop a slightly rough surface. The wood is open textured, with large pores, and lacks the strength and durability of the native Oaks. It will probably be used for cheaper furniture and flooring. The tree grows fast, even of soils of moderate fertility and plays a small role in European forestry.

Quercus rubra - Red Oak in Fall

Young Plants of Red Oak

Leaves of Red Oak

Red Leaves of Red Oak

Red Oak Leaves in Fall

Red Oak Flowers

Flowers of Red Oak

Red Oak Acrons

Fruits of Red Oak

Red Oak Log

Bark of Red Oak

Red Oak in Fall

Forest of Red Oak

Red Oak