Quercus rubra
Northern red oak · also Common red oak, Red oak
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Quercus rubra, also known as northern red oak, is a rapidly growing deciduous tree with a rounded canopy, known for its impressive size and striking red autumn foliage. It is a popular choice for parks and large gardens due to its shade provision and adaptability to various soil types and urban conditions. This tree provides valuable food for wildlife, though it requires ample space and cannot tolerate shade.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 23,7223.4%—3.5 in
- 11,3513.5%—4.3 in
- 9,9861.4%—12 in
- 8,2411.9%50 yr16 in
- 6,0202.2%—7.9 in
- 5,9893.8%15 yr8.3 in
- 5,1981.7%—9.0 in
- 5,1742.6%—18 in
- 5,0274.3%33 yr20 in
- 4,8521.5%10 yr3.9 in
- 3,2814.4%—4.7 in
- 2,5490.22%—5.1 in
- 2,3532.8%—11 in
- 2,1141.2%—23 in
- 1,9264.3%—2.0 in
- 1,6142.2%—9.3 in
- 1,5503.3%—4.7 in
- 6620.29%—10 in
- 4694.0%7.9 yr3.9 in
- 4233.6%—20 in
- 3970.81%32 yr2.8 in
- 3770.13%42 yr16 in
- 3080.06%8.4 yr2.4 in
- 1621.0%2.0 yr2.0 in
- 1530.44%—13 in
- 1430.19%7.8 yr2.0 in
- 810.02%28 yr1.5 in
- 270.11%—7.9 in
- 160.01%28 yr4.0 in
- 70.00%—2.8 in
- 70.02%1.8 yr2.0 in
- 10.00%——
- 10.00%—7.9 in
Traits
- Form
- Broadleaf
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Mature height
- 50–80 ft
- Canopy spread
- 50–70 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Soil
- Acidic
- Water needs
- Moderate
- Wildlife value
- High
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 8.0 in, mean 12 in, 90th percentile 27 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests
- East Central Texas forests
- Mississippi lowland forests
Other Quercus in the catalogue
74 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
