Life Form:

Deciduous tree

Average Height:

50-75'

Bark Characteristics:

Dark gray bark with hard scaly ridges.

Bloom Characteristics:

Yellow-green male and female catkins.

Fall Color:

Brown-red

Foliage Characteristics:

Simple, alternate leaves with 7-11 sharply pointed lobes. Green on top and gray-white beneath. 4-10" long.

Fruit Characteristics:

Acorns which have flat, saucer-shaped cups. Grow singularly or in groups of 2-5. Mature in early fall.

Structure:

Rounded, irregular

Range:

SE Canada to NC and E USA

Habitat:

Rich, mesic woods, sandy plains, rock outcrops, stable interdunes, outer edges of floodplains

Description:

The acorns of the red oak were an important food source for Native American tribes in the tree’s growing region. As with all acorns, they would first have to be processed to remove tannins. Medicines were also made from the bark. Now, red oak is a popular shade tree in eastern North America and parts of Europe.

Hardiness:

-30 - 20 F

Attracts:

Birds

Bloom Time:

May

Ethnobotanical Uses:

Various Native Americans processed acorns for food.

Medicinal / Pharmaceutical:

Some Native Americans used bark of this tree to treat bowel problems, heart problems, bronchial infections, or as an astringent, disinfectant, or cleanser.

Provenance:

Uncertain

Topic:

Trees  Search this

Living Collections  Search this

Common Name:

Northern red oak

red oak

Group:

[vascular plants]

Class:

Equisetopsida

Subclass:

Magnoliidae

Superorder:

Rosanae

Order:

Fagales

Family:

Fagaceae

Genus:

Quercus

Species:

rubra

Accession Number:

2011-0709A

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection

On Display:

National Museum of American History

Data Source:

Smithsonian Gardens

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax786c80ddb-4f5f-4371-86f0-20faeceabda6

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:ofeo-sg_2011-0709A