Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
A fast-growing native oak prized for its brilliant red fall color and adaptability to various growing conditions. This stately tree develops a broad, rounded crown with distinctive lobed leaves that turn fiery scarlet in autumn. Northern Red Oak is excellent for large properties where you want the majesty of an oak but don't want to wait decades for substantial size.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
4–8
USDA hardiness
Height
50-70 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Northern Red Oak in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 shade-tree →Zone Map
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Northern Red Oak · Zones 4–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Soil: Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 50 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: more than 60 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Produces 0.75- to 1.5-inch-long acorns singly or in pairs on a very short stem. The acorn is brown to reddish-brown and smooth. The wide cap covers the upper 1/4 of the nut. The tree may reach 40 years of age before producing acorns. Displays from August to October. The meat inside the acorn is white and bitter to taste.
Color: Brown/Copper, Red/Burgundy. Type: Nut. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Spring
Edibility: Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out.
History & Origin
Origin: Southeastern Canada to North-Central and Eastern United States
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Black Walnut, Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Fire, Pollution
- +Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Moths, Pollinators, Small Mammals, Songbirds
- +Edible: Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out.
- +Fast-growing
- +Low maintenance
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Seeds): Low severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Wild Bergamot
Thrives in oak's partial shade and attracts beneficial pollinators
Wild Ginger
Excellent groundcover that tolerates oak's shade and acidic leaf litter
Serviceberry
Compatible understory tree that shares similar soil preferences and wildlife value
Coral Bells
Shade-tolerant perennial that complements oak's root zone without competition
Wild Columbine
Native woodland flower that thrives under oak canopy and attracts hummingbirds
Ferns
Natural woodland companions that flourish in oak's filtered light and leaf mulch
Redbud
Compatible understory tree that fixes nitrogen and blooms before oak leafs out
Trillium
Spring ephemeral that completes lifecycle before oak's full canopy blocks light
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that can inhibit oak growth and stress the tree
Autumn Olive
Invasive shrub that competes aggressively for nutrients and can overwhelm oak seedlings
Norway Maple
Dense canopy and shallow roots create excessive competition for light and nutrients
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good overall disease resistance
Common Pests
Gypsy moths, oak borers, scale insects
Diseases
Oak wilt, bacterial leaf scorch, anthracnose