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| ## Northern Red Oak {#northern-red-oak .Title-Header}                 |
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| *Quercus rubra* L.                                                    |
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| Plant Symbol = QURU                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center and the Biota of
North America Program

### Alternate Names![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.6979166666666665in" height="1.801388888888889in"}

Red oak, common red oak, eastern red oak, mountain red oak, gray oak

## Uses

*Industry*: Northern red oak is an important source of hardwood lumber.
The wood is close-grained, heavy, and hard; it machines well and accepts
a variety of finishes. It is used for furniture, veneer, interior
finishing, cabinets, paneling, and flooring as well as for agricultural
implements, posts, and railway ties.

*Wildlife*: Northern red oak provides good cover and nesting sites
(including cavities) for a wide variety of birds and mammals. Deer, elk,
moose, and rabbits commonly browse leaves and young seedlings and the
acorns are eaten by a wide variety of large and small mammals and birds.

*Ethnobotanic*: The acorns of red oak (and other oak species) were an
important food source for Native Americans. To remove bitter tannins,
they were boiled, leached with ashes, soaked for days in water, or
buried over winter. Some tribes used red oak bark as a medicine for
heart troubles and bronchial infections or as an astringent,
disinfectant, and cleanser.

*Conservation*: Northern red oak is commonly planted as a landscape tree
in eastern North America and Europe \-- used as a shade tree on lawns,
parks, campuses, golf courses, etc, where space is sufficient. It is
fast growing, easy to transplant, tolerant of urban conditions
(including dry and acidic soil and air pollution), the abundant nuts
attract wildlife, and the leaves develop a brick-red fall color. It has
been used in various rehabilitation projects, including revegetation of
coal mine spoils in states of the east central United States (Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania).

## Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

## Description 

*General*: Beech Family (Fagaceae). Native trees often reaching 20--30 m
tall, less commonly up to 50 m; bark dark gray or black, shallowly
furrowed into broad hard scaly ridges, inner bark reddish to pink;
generally developing a strong taproot and network of deep, spreading
laterals. Leaves are deciduous, alternate, elliptic, 10--25 cm long and
8--15 cm wide, divided less than halfway to midvein into 7--11 shallow
wavy lobes with a few irregular bristle-tipped teeth, sinuses usually
extending less than 1/2 distance to midrib, glabrous and dull green
above, light dull green below with tufts of hairs in vein angles. Male
and female flowers are borne in separate catkins on the same tree (the
species monoecious), the staminate catkins in leaf axils of the previous
year\'s growth, the pistillate in 2--many-flowered spikes in the leaf
axils. Acorns maturing in the second year, about 15--30 cm long, with a
broad usually shallow cup, borne singly or in clusters of 2--5. The
common name is in reference to the red fall foliage color, red petioles,
and reddish interior wood. This is a different species from "southern
red oak" (*Q. falcata*).

Northern red oak is a member of the red oak subgroup (subg.
*Erythrobalanus* = sect. *Lobatae*). It hybridizes with related species,
including scarlet oak (*Q. coccinea*), northern pin oak (*Q.
ellipsoidalis*), shingle oak (*Q. imbricata*), scrub oak (*Q.
ilicifolia*), blackjack oak (*Q. marilandica*), swamp oak (*Q.
palustris*), willow oak (*Q. phellos*), Shumard oak (*Q. shumardii*),
and black oak (*Q. velutina*).

*Variation within the species*: There are different interpretations of
variation patterns among trees of northern red oak. A single species
without formally variants is sometimes recognized, or two varieties may
be recognized.

*Quercus rubra* var. *ambigua* (A. Gray) Fernald

SY= *Q. borealis* Michx. f.

SY= *Q. rubra* var. *borealis* (Michx. f.) Farw.

*Quercus rubra* var. *rubra*

SY= *Q. maxima* (Marsh.) Ashe

SY= *Q. borealis* var. *maxima* (Marsh.) Ashe

Var. *rubra* has a shallow cup, to 3 cm wide, enclosing 1/4--1/5 of the
nut. Var. *ambigua* has a deeper cup, to 2 cm wide, enclosing 1/3 of the
nut. McDougal and Parks (1984, 1986) found evidence of correspondence
between morphological types and flavonoid chemotypes but the
evolutionary status and geographic distribution of these have not been
worked out in detail.

## Distribution 

Northern red oak is widely distributed throughout much of the eastern
United States and southeastern Canada. It grows from Quebec, Ontario,
Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick southward to southwestern Georgia,
Alabama, northern Mississippi, northern Arkansas, and eastern Oklahoma.
Northern red oak extends westward through Minnesota and Iowa, south
through eastern Nebraska and Kansas to eastern Oklahoma. It occurs
locally in eastern and southwestern Louisiana and western Mississippi.
For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site.

## Establishment

*Adaptation*: Northern red oak commonly grows on mesic slopes and
well-drained uplands, less commonly on dry slopes or poorly drained
uplands, at (0-) 150--1800 meters in elevation. It typically grows on
lower and middle slopes, in coves, ravines, and on valley floors, most
commonly on N- and E-facing slopes and on clay, loam, and sandy or
gravelly soils. Best growth is in full sun and well drained, slightly
acidic, sandy loam. It occurs as a dominant in many natural communities,
including mixed mesophytic and pine-oak.

Northern red oak is intermediate in shade tolerance but generally unable
to establish beneath its own canopy. Seedlings usually do not reach
sapling or pole size unless gaps are created in the canopy. Northern red
oak is often replaced by more shade-tolerant species such as sugar maple
and American basswood.

Flowering occurs in April--May, during or before leaf development, while
fruiting (August--) September--October.

*General*: Northern red oak generally first bears fruit at about 20--25
years, although most trees do not produce acorns in abundance until
40--50 years. Good crops are produced every 2--5 years. In most years,
birds, mammals, and insects commonly destroy up to 80% of the crop and
nearly the entire crop can be eliminated in poor years. Seeds on the
soil surface are particularly vulnerable to rodent predation, and
germination frequencies are much higher when a layer of leaf litter
covers acorns. Under natural conditions, acorns generally germinate in
the spring after over-wintering breaks dormancy.

Germination and seedling establishment may be successful in full and
partial shade, but early growth is reduced by shade, poor soil, and
competing herbaceous vegetation. Seedlings in mature stands may be
present in large number, but few survive more than a few years or grow
to more than 15--20 cm in height. Under optimal conditions, northern red
oak is fast growing and trees may live up to 500 years.

Seedlings, saplings, and small poles of northern red oak can sprout if
cut or burned. Although young oaks typically stump sprout readily, older
and larger individuals also may sprout.

## Management

The tight, relatively thin bark of northern red oak makes the trees more
susceptible to fire damage than in species of oak with rougher, corkier
bark. Apart from immediate mortality, damaged basal cambial tissue
permits the entry of insects and heart-rot decay that may ultimately
kill the tree. Even so, northern red oak is adapted to periodic fire,
which is integrally associated with oak forests. Older, larger
individuals often survive fire and seedlings, saplings, and pole-sized
individuals commonly sprout vigorously from the stumps or root collar
after being top-killed by fire. Increased fire suppression has favored
more shade-tolerant hardwoods and resulted in a decrease in oaks.

Acorns can maintain viability in controlled storage for up to 2--3
years. They should be stratified at 1-3° C for several months; those
from northern populations require the longer period. Growth is best when
sown as soon as ripe into permanent position or in an outdoor seedbed
protected from predation. Cuttings obtained from young trees can be
rooted if treated with hormones. Transplants of bare root stock are best
done in spring. Because of its usefulness and popularity, northern red
oak is commonly available in ball-and-burlap and in containers.

The gypsy moth and numerous other insects can attack northern red oak,
occasionally causing serious damage. Numerous caterpillars enjoy oak
foliage, but feeding damage is usually not severe. Oak decline is a
serious disease of northern red oak and has affected the species
throughout much of the central Appalachian region.

*Oak wilt*

Northern red oak is susceptible to oak wilt, a fungal disease that
invades the water-conducting vessels and plugs them. As water movement
is slowed, the leaves wilt and rapidly drop off the tree. The disease
begins with a crinkling and paling of the leaves, followed by wilting
and browning from the margins inward. Necrosis may be strongest along
the veins or between them. The symptoms move down branches toward the
center of the tree and the tree may die within 1--3 months, although
some diseased trees may survive up to a year. The disease may be spread
by insects (primarily beetles) or pruning tools, but most of the tree
loss in oak wilt centers results from transmission through root spread
between adjoining trees. A trench (dug and then immediately filled)
between neighboring trees severs the roots and prevents fungus spread.
Dead and infected trees must be destroyed -- once a tree has become
infected, there is little chance to save it. The wood may be used for
firewood provided it is debarked or covered and sealed during the spring
and summer (Johnson and Appel 2000; Roberts 2000; Wisconsin Dept. of
Natural Resources 2000; City of Austin 2000).

This disease most seriously infects species of the red oak group
(including black and live oaks). Overcup oak, bur oak, white oak, and
other members of the white oak group are not as susceptible and can be
planted in oak wilt centers. Oak wilt has reached epidemic proportions
in Texas and in the mid-West from Iowa and Minnesota through Michigan
and Wisconsin into Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

## Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

These plant materials are somewhat available from commercial sources.
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

## References

Auburn University 1999. *Trees of Alabama and the southeast web site*.
001207. School of Forestry and Wildlife Science, Auburn, Alabama.
\<http://www.forestry.auburn.edu/samuelson/dendrology/\>

City of Austin 2000. *The oak wilt suppression program*. Austin Parks
and Recreation, Austin, Texas. \<http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/oakwilt/\>
Accessed September 2000.

Johnson, J. & D. Appel 2000. *Eight step program to oak wilt
management*. Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M
University, College Station, Texas.
\<http://cygnus.tamu.edu/Texlab/oakwilt.html\> Accessed September 2000.

McDougal, K.M. & C.R. Parks 1986. *Environmental and genetic components
of flavonoid variation in red oak,* *Quercus rubra*. Biochem. Syst.
Ecol. 14:291--298.

McDougal, K.M. & C.R. Parks 1984. *Elevational variation in foliar
flavonoids of Quercus rubra L. (Fagaceae)*. Amer. J. Bot. 71:301--308.

Nixon, K.C. and others 1993. *Quercus*. Pp. 445-506, IN: *Flora of North
America, North of Mexico. Vol. 3*. Oxford Univ. Press, New York.
\<http://hua.huh.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/Flora/flora.pl?FLORA_ID=12395\>
Accessed September 2000.

Roberts, D.L. 2000. *Oak wilt: A threat to red oaks*. Michigan State
University Extension Website.

\<http://www.msue.msu.edu/reg_se/oakwilt/\> Accessed September 2000.

Sander, I.L. 1990. *Quercus rubra L. Overcup Oak*. Pp. 727-733, IN: R.M.
Burns and B.H. Honkala. *Silvics of North America. Volume 2. Hardwoods*.
USDA Forest Service Agric. Handbook 654, Washington, D.C.
\<http://willow.ncfes.umn.edu/silvics_manual/Volume_2/quercus/rubra.htm\>
Accessed September 2000.

Tirmenstein, D.A. 1991. *Quercus rubra*. IN: W.C. Fischer (compiler).
*The fire effects information system \[database\].* USDA Forest Service,
Intermountain Research Station, Intermountain Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Missoula, Montana.
\<http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/querub/\> Accessed
September 2000.

Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources 2000. *Oak wilt in Wisconsin:
Biology and management*. Wisconsin DNR Website.
\<http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/forestry/fh/diseases/oakwilt.htm\>
Accessed September 2000.

## Prepared By

*Guy Nesom*

Formerly BONAP, North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North
Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

## Species Coordinator

### *M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, c/o Plant Sciences Dept., Davis,
California

Revised: 19jun02 jsp; 29may03 ahv; 060809 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
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*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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