{"slug":"quercus-rubra","scientific_name":"Quercus rubra","common_names":["Northern red oak","Red oak"],"family":"Fagaceae","type":"broadleaf_deciduous","mature_height_m":22,"mature_spread_m":20,"growth_rate":"fast","lifespan_years":300,"hardiness_zones":[4,8],"sun":"full","water":"medium","soil":"Acidic, fertile, well-drained sandy loam preferred; tolerates clay and dry sites, may yellow on alkaline soil","native_range":"Eastern and central United States and southeastern Canada, from Nova Scotia and the Great Lakes south to Georgia and Louisiana and west to Minnesota, Nebraska and Oklahoma.","description":"A large, fast-growing oak with a rounded crown about as wide as tall and gray bark that develops shiny flat ridges like ski tracks. Bristle-tipped leaves turn russet to bright red in fall, and acorns take two years to mature. It transplants easily and tolerates road salt, pollution and drought, so it is one of the most planted street and park oaks in the North.","care":"Plant in full sun in acidic, well-drained soil; chlorosis shows up on high-pH soils. Water through establishment, then it is drought tolerant. Prune only when dormant to avoid oak wilt; also watch for spongy moth, red oak borer and two-lined chestnut borer on stressed trees.","benefits":["shade","fast_canopy","fall_color","wildlife","pollinators","birds","edible","drought_tolerant","salt_tolerant","long_lived"],"uses":["street_tree","yard_shade","parks","timber"],"cautions":["messy_fruit","toxic_parts","pest_prone","invasive_elsewhere"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Quercus_rubra_%40_Tortworth_Court.jpg","image_credit":"No machine-readable author provided. Velela assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","sources":["https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-rubra/","https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/northern-red-oak/","https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QURU","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_rubra"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-rubra","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-rubra.md","regions":[{"country":"CA","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Native to Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QURU"},{"country":"US","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Native across the eastern and central US (more than 15 states).","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QURU"},{"country":"CA","region":"ON","locality":"Toronto","status":"recommended","note":"On Toronto's list of species planted on streets (native to Ontario).","source_url":"https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/trees/tree-planting/species-planted-on-streets/"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"Sacramento","status":"recommended","note":"On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list","source_url":"https://sactree.org/best-trees-for-sacramento/"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"San Jose","status":"recommended","note":"On the Our City Forest Community Nursery tree species list","source_url":"https://www.ourcityforest.org/nursery-species"},{"country":"US","region":"DC","locality":"Washington","status":"recommended","note":"On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list","source_url":"https://caseytrees.org/rebate"},{"country":"US","region":"GA","locality":"Atlanta","status":"recommended","note":"On the Trees Atlanta Top 50 Atlanta Trees list","source_url":"https://treesatlanta.org/resources/50-atlanta-trees/"},{"country":"US","region":"MA","locality":"Boston","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Boston Urban Forestry Division recommended public street trees list","source_url":"https://www.boston.gov/urban-forestry-division"},{"country":"US","region":"NY","locality":"New York","status":"recommended","note":"On the NYC Parks Street Tree Planting Approved Species List","source_url":"https://www.nycgovparks.org/trees/street-tree-planting/species-list"},{"country":"US","region":"OR","locality":"Portland","status":"recommended","note":"On Portland's approved street tree list for planting strips 8.5 ft and wider without high-voltage lines.","source_url":"https://www.portland.gov/trees/85-foot-wide-and-greater-planting-spaces-without-high-voltage-power-lines"},{"country":"US","region":"WA","locality":"Seattle","status":"recommended","note":"Offered as a street tree (8 ft+ planting strip) in Seattle's Trees for Neighborhoods 2026 program.","source_url":"https://www.seattle.gov/trees/2026-tree-options"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}