TreeRM

Shumard oak

Quercus shumardii 路 Fagaceae 路 also Shumard red oak, Swamp red oak

A tall, straight red oak (50-90 feet) with deeply lobed leaves that turn scarlet in fall, more upright and faster-growing than its cousin the Texas red oak. It is a popular street and lawn tree across the South and tolerates clay and short floods, but in Austin it wants deeper, well-drained soil than the rocky west side offers.

Broadleaf, loses its leaves in winterMedium growthFull sunModerate water
Shumard oak
Tmasjeg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where it stands

Native

This tree evolved here, and local wildlife depends on it.

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 United States 路 Also native in: IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MI, MO, OH, PA, VA, WV (USDA PLANTS distribution)source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 AL, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 AR, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 FL, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 GA, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 LA, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 MS, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 NC, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 OK, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 SC, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 TN, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 TX, United Statessource

Recommended

A city, utility or extension service lists it among the trees it approves for planting here.

  • 馃嚚馃嚘 Toronto, ON, Canada 路 On the City of Toronto Species Planted on Streets listsource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Sacramento, CA, United States 路 On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees listsource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 San Jose, CA, United States 路 On the Our City Forest Community Nursery tree species listsource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Denver, CO, United States 路 On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree Listsource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Washington, DC, United States 路 On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species listsource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Atlanta, GA, United States 路 On the Trees Atlanta Top 50 Atlanta Trees listsource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Austin, TX, United States 路 On the 2026 TreeFolks NeighborWoods tree menu (City of Austin / Austin Energy free tree program) as 'Shumard Oak', large stature tree. Menu warns it is susceptible to oak wilt; prune only in winter.source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Dallas, TX, United States 路 On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree Listsource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Houston, TX, United States 路 On the City of Houston Planning and Development Department Street Tree Listsource

Care

Plant in fall or winter in deep soil and water weekly the first two summers. Very susceptible to oak wilt: prune only in deep winter or the heat of summer, paint cuts right away, and avoid wounding. Otherwise adaptable and relatively disease resistant. Rake acorns and leaves in fall.

Benefits

ShadeFall colorWildlifeBirdsDrought tolerantLong livedFlood tolerant

Good for

Street treeYard shadeparks

Watch out for

Pest proneLarge roots