Quercus rubra (Northern Red Oak)

Fast-Growing and Widely Adaptable, Northern Red oak is one of the most majestic and important trees of the North American hardwood forests. Its valuable timber is prized for both lumber and firewood, and its relatively quick growth and highly ornamental form makes it a favorite in designed landscapes.

Mature northern red oaks are unmistakable in the forest with their towering canopies and wide-flaring trunks. Bark is mainly a dusty to charcoal gray – the trunks of older trees may have darker-shaded vertical grooves with a cinnamon undertone. Leaves are distinctively lobed with sharp pointed tips, changing from deep, glossy green in Summer to a vibrant scarlet to burgundy color in Autumn.

Red oak has one of the largest ranges of any of the oaks, ranging from from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, Kansas and Oklahoma, growing as far south as Mississippi and Georgia. It is the only oak to grow into the Maritime province of Nova Scotia in Canada.

Fast growing and easy to transplant, Red oak is one of the most commonly encountered oaks in gardens and landscapes, and it seems to be relatively tolerant of pollution.  The tree can grow as much as 3 to 4 feet per year once established, quickly filling out its place in the landscape.

Cultivation: How to Grow Northern Red Oak

Red oak is very easy to grow – Plant one this year, and in 5 years you should be able to notice it well in the landscape!  Deep, moist soil results in best growth – Here in Indiana the best specimens of red oak can be found on loamy till soils along with beech and sugar maple. Red oak is reasonably drought tolerant, although less so than white oak (Quercus alba) or black oak (Quercus velutina).

While it can take some time to get established, a healthy sapling planted at about 1/2 inch caliper from root-pruned stock will be a sizeable small tree within 5 years, and a formidable sapling within 10 years. According to research by the USDA forestry service, red oak requires the following minimums for growing space:

• 6 inch DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) – 92 sq. ft or approx. 10′ x 10′ spacing
• 21 inch DBH – 285 sq. ft or approx. 16′ x 16′ spacing

With these spacings in mind, I would recommend planting red oaks at least 12 feet apart if you’re planning to thin them in the future.

Red oak is susceptible to several destructive diseases:

• Sudden oak death, caused by an algae-like pathogen Phytopthora ramorum, is one of the most destructive, affecting Northern Red Oak particularly badly. The best method of prevention for this disease is to avoid purchasing infected nursery stock – Inspect any woody nursery plants you purchase carefully for any sunken areas, oozing lesions, etc.
• Oak Wilt, caused by a fungus Bretziella fagacearum, is usually introduced by bark beetles feeding on the sap around a fresh cut. To prevent this disease from gaining a foothold, only prune oaks during the dormant season, from November to March.

Northern Red Oak Photo Gallery