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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Quercus rubra

Northern Red Oak

Scientific Name:

Quercus rubra

Genus:

Quercus

Species Epithet:

rubra

Common Name:

Northern Red Oak

Plant Type

Tree

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Fagaceae (Beech Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Invasive Status:

(*Key)

Size:

72-100 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

Yellow, Green

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Dry, Moist

Bloom Time:

April, May

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Two varieties in NC:
Quercus rubra var. rubra - Moist to fairly dry forests of slopes, coves, and ravines, below 1000 meters elevation. Common and widespread in the NC mountains and Piedmont, rare in the Coastal Plain.

Quercus rubra var. ambigua - Forests on ridges, slopes, and coves, mostly at over 1000 meters elevation. Common in the mountains.

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Highest Wildlife Value

Landscape Value:

Highly Recommended and Available

State Rank:

S5: Secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G5 - Secure (*Key)

Northern Red Oak bark is gray to almost black, with shallow vertical fissures; sometimes the spaces between the fissures are reddish.

Washington Co., RI

The Scientific Name is Quercus rubra. You will likely hear them called Northern Red Oak. This picture shows the Northern Red Oak bark is gray to almost black, with shallow vertical fissures; sometimes the spaces between the fissures are reddish. of Quercus rubra

Lisa Lofland Gould

Large tree of eastern half of the US.

Moore Co., NC

The Scientific Name is Quercus rubra. You will likely hear them called Northern Red Oak. This picture shows the Large tree of eastern half of the US. of Quercus rubra

Cami Gregg

Nice Fall color! The bark on mature trees has flat-topped, wide ridges with shallow furrows. The shallow furrows form a pattern resembling ski tracts.

Moore Co., NC

The Scientific Name is Quercus rubra. You will likely hear them called Northern Red Oak. This picture shows the Nice Fall color! The bark on mature trees has flat-topped, wide ridges with shallow furrows. The shallow furrows form a pattern resembling ski tracts. of Quercus rubra

Cami Gregg

Lobes typically less than halfway to the middle. The lobes have a few irregular bristle-pointed teeth.

Moore Co., NC

The Scientific Name is Quercus rubra. You will likely hear them called Northern Red Oak. This picture shows the Lobes typically less than halfway to the middle. The lobes have a few irregular bristle-pointed teeth. of Quercus rubra

Cami Gregg

Acorns can have either a deep or shallow cup.

Moore Co., NC

The Scientific Name is Quercus rubra. You will likely hear them called Northern Red Oak. This picture shows the Acorns can have either a deep or shallow cup. of Quercus rubra

Cami Gregg

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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