Cox, Paul
Quercus rubra L.
Northern red oak
Fagaceae (Beech Family)
This 75-100 ft.,
deciduous oak occasionally reaches 120 ft. in height. Its straight trunk is clear of branches for some distance above the ground and supports a wide canopy, commonly 3/4 that of height. The dark
bark is striped with long, smooth plates separated by deep furrows. Leaf lobes are bristle-tipped. Fall color is can be crimson, golden-orange, or russet.
The northernmost eastern oak, it is also the most important lumber species of red oak. Most are used for flooring, furniture, millwork, railroad cross-ties, mine timbers, fenceposts, pilings, and pulpwood. A popular handsome shade and street
tree, with good form and dense foliage. One of the most rapid-growing oaks, it transplants easily, is hardy in city conditions, and endures cold.
Image Gallery:
2 photo(s) available
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Tree Leaf Complexity: Simple Leaf: Green
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit: Red, Brown
Size Class: More than 100 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , GA , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MO , NE , NH , NJ , NY , NC , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , VT , VA , WV , WI , DC
Canada: NB ,
NS ,
ON ,
PE ,
QC Native Distribution: N.S. to Ont. & MN, s. to GA, LA, OK, e. KS & e. NE
Native Habitat: Mesic upland, forests; ravines; north & east slopes
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Dry
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Well-drained, loamy sands.
Conditions Comments: One of the most shade-tolerant oaks. Transplants readily due to negligible taproot. Susceptible to the deadly oak wilt. Do not prune in wilt-infested areas during the growing season. Fairly fast-growing. Withstands pollution. Develops chlorosis in soils of high pH. Red oak is a handsome
tree, recommended for planting in streets and parks. (Peattie)
Benefit
Use Wildlife: Attracts songbirds, ground birds and mammals.
Use Food: EDIBLE PARTS: Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out. Gather nuts during the fall from September to October. Only gather the ripe tan-to-brown acorns, rather than the unripe green ones. remove bitterness, shell the brown, ripe acorns and remove any corky skin layers, dice the meat, and boil the chunks in water from 15 to 30 minutes until the water turns brown. Then pour off the water and repeat the process until the water clears, indicating that the tannic acid has been removed. During the last boiling, salt water can be added; then the acorns can be deep fried or mixed in a soup. Finely chopped
acorn meats can be added to bread doughs and muffin batters. After the leaching process,
acorn meat can be frozen. To make flour, the boiled
acorn meat can be split in two and dried by slowly baking in a 200 degree oven with the door cracked to allow moisture to escape. Crush or grind and use as a thickener or a flour. Another method is to roast the fresh
acorn to work well in a grinder or blender. After grinding, place the flour into a cloth bag and boil to leach out bitterness. Leached acorns, after they are roasted until brittle, can be ground and used as a marginal coffee substitute. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.)
Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: Acorns (seeds of nuts) and young leaves. Low toxicity if eaten. Symptoms include stomach pain, constipation and later bloody diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination.
Attracts: Hummingbirds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Gray Hairstreak
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Quercus rubra is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Last Update: 2009-06-08
