Start growing
Transplants easily. Prefers full sun and slightly acidic soil. Cold hardy.
GROW SOMETHING WONDERFUL
Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Your guide to planting, growing, and getting to know this plant.
THE PLANT NOTEBOOK
Red Oak care, from seed onward.
- Botanical name
- Quercus rubra
- Common names
- Northern Red Oak
- Family
- Fagaceae
- Genus
- Quercus
- Species
- Q. rubra
Growing with your kit
Red Oak acorns require cold stratification. Seeds In A Cup® provides pre-chilled acorns ready for spring sprout.
Propagation
By acorn.
Seasonal growth & harvest
Fastest growing of all the oaks; can reach 80ft with a massive spread.
Growing conditions
Upland forests with well-drained, acidic soil.
Weather & tolerances
Highly salt and pollution tolerant—excellent for urban settings.
Pests & plant health
Oak wilt (serious) and Two-lined chestnut borer.
Plant safety
Safe; acorns need leaching if eaten.
Botanical features
A large deciduous tree with leaves featuring pointed lobes (bristles). Large acorns take two years to mature.
Varieties
‘Splendens’.
Garden & everyday uses
Premier hardwood for flooring, furniture, and cabinetry. Essential wildlife habitat
Native range & distribution
Eastern and Central US; parts of Canada.
Conservation
Secure.
Name origins
Latin ‘rubra’ (Red), referring to its vibrant fall color and pinkish-red wood.
History
Highly valued in 19th-century America as the 'Bread and Butter' of the timber industry.