Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
A fast-growing, structurally sound shade and timber oak with brilliant red fall color. Prune only in the dormant season where oak wilt is present, since fresh spring wounds attract sap beetles. Acorns are bitter and mature in two seasons.
Field reference
Family
Fagaceae
Growth rate
Fast
Mature size
60–75 ft tall, 45–50 ft spread
Hardiness zone
3–8
Soil preference
Deep, well-drained, slightly acidic loam; tolerates clay
Sun
Full sun
Pruning window
Mid-winter (dormant) — never April–July in oak-wilt regions
Wood properties
Dense, hard, strong ring-porous hardwood (~0.63 SG). Holds rigging loads well but heavy; large limbs build momentum fast in negative rigging.
Native range
Eastern and central North America, Nova Scotia to Georgia and west to Iowa
Green weight
63 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Oak Wiltfungus · Severe severity · peak Spring and early summer (high infection risk from fresh wounds April–July)Spongy Moth (formerly Gypsy Moth)pest · High severity · peak Caterpillars feed and defoliate May–June; egg masses laid mid-summer overwinterPowdery Mildewfungus · Low severity · peak Late spring through fall, worst in humid, shaded, crowded conditionsBacterial Leaf Scorchdisease · High severity · peak Symptoms most visible mid-summer to fall (July–October)Cankerworm (Inchworm)pest · Moderate severity · peak Larvae feed and defoliate in spring (April–May) as leaves expandArmillaria Root Rotfungus · High severity · peak Decline visible in summer drought stress; honey mushrooms appear in fall
Common questions
When is it safe to prune a red oak?
Prune in the dormant season (roughly November–February). Avoid wounding from April through July in oak-wilt areas, and paint any unavoidable wounds immediately.
Why are the leaves on my red oak browning along the edges in late summer?
Marginal browning that recurs each summer is often bacterial leaf scorch, a xylem-limited bacterium spread by leafhoppers. Confirm with a lab test before treating.
Related species in Fagaceae
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