SOUTHERN RED OAK

130 Avon Rd.

Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)

Quercus falcata, commonly known as the southern red oak, or Spanish oak, is native to the eastern and south-central United States. It is a medium to large-sized deciduous tree, reaching 82-98 feet tall with a few forest grown specimens reaching 115-144 feet, with a trunk up to 5 feet in diameter, the crown with a broad, round-topped head. The leaves are 4-12 inches long and 2.25-6.25 inches wide, with 3 to 5 sharply pointed, often curved, bristle-tipped lobes, the central lobe long and narrow. The small number of long, narrow lobes readily distinguishes southern red oak from other red oaks. The base of the leaf is distinctly rounded into an inverted bell shape and often lopsided. They are dark green and shiny above, and rusty and hairy below. The acorns are short at 5/8th inches or less, bright orange-brown and enclosed for one-third to half of its length in a flat cap. Southern red oak has been reported to form occasional hybrids with several other red oaks in the region.