Northern Red Oak

Northern red oak is a large deciduous shade tree growing 81 feet tall with a rounded to broad-spreading crown that branches close to the ground; it reaches moderate size quickly, gaining 60 centimeters per year. You recognize it by its dark, lustrous green leaves with 7 to 11 sharply pointed, bristle-tipped lobes and grayish-white undersides; new growth emerges reddish in spring, and fall color ranges from yellowish-brown to russet-red and occasionally bright red. Acorns are large and rounded, enclosed only at the base by a flat, saucer-like cup, maturing over two years. Native from Nova Scotia to Pennsylvania and westward to Minnesota and Iowa, it now ranks as the state tree of New Jersey.

Plant northern red oak in full sun to part shade on moist to dry, well-drained, acidic soils with pH between 4.3 and 7.3; it readily transplants due to its lack of a deep taproot and adapts to varied conditions including poor urban soils. Growth rate is moderate to fast. Maintenance level is low once established; the tree tolerates drought, black walnut allelopathy, and urban pollution. PNW records document 14 diseases and 14 pests comparable to pin oak, including sudden oak death, anthracnose, mistletoe, and gall-forming insects. Best performance occurs in fertile, sandy, finely-textured, well-drained soils found on glacial deposits and stream borders. Its rapid growth, pollution tolerance, and relatively easy establishment make it a common choice for shade and street planting throughout its native range.