northern red oak - Fagaceae Quercus rubra

Foliage

Bark

Bud

Fruit

Form

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Taxonomy

Family	Fagaceae
Genus	Quercus
Species	rubra
Common Name	northern red oak
iTree Code	QURU5

Plant Form

Form	Tree: rounded and symmetrically crown
Height	80 feet
Spread	50 feet
Deciduous	Yes

Identification Description

Foliage	green, lobed with bristled tips 4-8” long; shallow sinuses	Leaf Type	Simple
		Needles	0
Bark	light gray/brown, smooth when young; gray with flat-topped ridges, deep furrows with ages
Bud	terminal: conical, pointed; lateral: slightly raised; both having overlapping scales (imbricate) , many layers of scales, red to grayish brown	Bud Arrangement	Alternate
Twig	slender, red/brown with lenticels
Flower	male: green-yellow catkins in large groups; male and female on same tree (monoecious)
Fruit	acorn with shallow cap about 1/4 of the length, mature in autumn after two seasons
Fall Color	dark red

Site Characteristics

USDA Zones		pH Levels		Salt Tolerance
Min	3b	Min	4.3	Soil	Moderate
Max	8a	Max	7.3	Spray	Moderate

Shade Tolerance	Drought Tolerance	Allelopathy
Intermediate	Intolerant	Yes

Species Status

Nebraska Native
U.S. Native
Region of Origin	United States, Canada
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