Northern red oak is one of our more rapid growing oaks and its lumber is of higher quality than the other red and black oaks. Leaves are alternate and simple with 7 to 11 bristle-tipped lobes being cut halfway to the midrib. They are 5 to 9 inches long and 4 to 6 inches wide, with the upper surface being smooth and yellow-green and the under surface smooth with occasional tufts at the intersection of the veins. The acorn is about one inche long, oblong and hairy at the cup end. The squirrel, raccoon, quail, deer, ruffed grouse, wood duck, black duck, gadwall, and green-winged teal make this acorn a part of their diet.
Twigs are slnder, reddish-brown, slightly hairy at first becoming smooth.
Bark on younger trees is dark brown or black and smooth. Bark on the upper trunk is rough and shallow fissured with broad, smooth streaks while bark on the lower trunk is grey to black and deeply furrowed. Buds are reddish and fringed with hair. Bridge timbers, cross ties, flooring, and construction lumber are sawed from this tree. Usually it is marketed with the other of the red oak group.