During winter months, these understory beech often retain many of their pale brown leaves. Ironwood is another understory species that will often retain leaves into the winter. However, ironwood leaves are a darker brown. Leaf sizes can come much smaller and much larger. Usually the mid-section of the leaf is much broader than the lobes, yielding an appearance of being more leaf than space.
Acorn shape varies.
Terminal BUDS of red oak are usually in a cluster. BARK on young trees is also smooth and steely gray. As trees grow larger, very firm plates and flattened ridges form. Red oak is most common in the central U.P. and the Keweenaw peninsula, although it can be found across the region. It can be very difficult to tell the difference between poor quality red oak and normal pin oak.