Life Form:

Deciduous tree

Average Height:

50-75'

Bark Characteristics:

Dark gray with furrows and ridges.

Bloom Characteristics:

Male flowers grow in drooping catkins. Female flowers are solitary or clustered.

Fall Color:

Red; developes very late

Foliage Characteristics:

Simple, alternate, 7 lobed leaves with C-shaped sinuses between lobes. 3-6" long.

Fruit Characteristics:

Acorns grow singularly or in pairs with half the acorn covered by its cap. .5-1" long.

Structure:

Young: pyramidal Mature: rounded

Range:

NC and E USA

Habitat:

dry upland forest, ridges and slopes in hilly to mountainous terrain

Description:

Scarlet oak is one of the fastest growing oaks, but also has one of the shortest lifespans. It is the mayfly of oaks. It is planted widely in the US and Europe as a shade tree, and for its beautiful scarlet color in the fall.

This oak is listed as Endangered in Maine.

Hardiness:

-30 - 30 F

Bloom Time:

April to May

Provenance:

From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin

Topic:

Trees  Search this

Living Collections  Search this

Common Name:

Scarlet Oak

Group:

[vascular plants]

Class:

Equisetopsida

Subclass:

Magnoliidae

Superorder:

Rosanae

Order:

Fagales

Family:

Fagaceae

Genus:

Quercus

Species:

coccinea

Accession Number:

2011-2747A

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection

Data Source:

Smithsonian Gardens

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax7ae7b9a58-6dd5-4579-a04a-abd84e16c663

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:ofeo-sg_2011-2747A