Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Fagales>Fagaceae>Quercus rubra L.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) leaves

Northern Red Oak is one of the more common and widespread overstory trees in North Carolina.

Granville Co., NC 4/27/08.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) leaves

Granville Co., NC 4/27/08.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) leaves

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) leaves

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra var. ambigua) leaves

The variety found in the higher mountains (above ~3000 feet) is var. ambigua, which has slightly more deeply lobed leaves and slightly paler bark. The difference is subtle at best.

Grayson Co., VA 7/25/10.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra var. ambigua) acorns

The acorn caps of var. ambigua cover about 1/3 of the acorn, versus 1/4 for var. rubra.

Grayson Co., VA 7/25/10.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) leaves

The leaves of Shumard Oak and Scarlet Oak are similar, but are glossy above and more deeply lobed. Black Oak has highly variable leaves that can look a lot like N. Red Oak, but the leaves are pubescent beneath (N. Red Oak's are smooth except for small tufts in the vein axils) and the bark is rougher and blackish.

Durham Co., NC 8/3/2003.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) leaves

The leaves of saplings tend to be very shallowly lobed.

Orange Co., NC 10/15/06.

This tree is perplexing — the sinuses are much deeper than typical for Northern Red Oak. It could possibly be a hybrid with Shumard Oak.

Chapel Hill, NC 5/25/09.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) acorns

The large acorns have shallow caps, covering about 1/4 of the acorn in var. rubra.

Chatham Co., NC 9/21/03.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) acorn

Orange Co., NC 10/15/06.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) bark

Bark of a medium-sized tree. The trunk usually has long vertical veins of pale gray smooth bark separated by shallow furrows of rough bark (also a feature of Shumard Oak).

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) bark

Bark of a large tree.

Orange Co., NC 10/15/06.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) bark

Bark of a medium-sized tree.

Granville Co., NC 4/27/08.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) bark

Bark of a large tree.

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.

More information:
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology

Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides