Southern Red Oak
Quercus falcata Michx.
Also known as Spanish Oak.
Mature Size: 60 to 80 feet in height and 1 to 2½ feet in diameter; can reach 100 feet in height.
Form: Large, spreading branches with a broad, round, open top.
Habitat: Variable; common on uplands with dry, poor, sandy or gravelly soils; reaches largest size along streams in fertile bottoms.
Leaves
Alternate, simple, 5 to 9 inches long and 4 to 5 inches wide, dark shiny green above, tan and downy beneath; lobes irregularly shaped, mostly narrow, bristle- tipped, with the central lobe usually longest; sometimes pear-shaped with three rounded, bristle-tipped lobes at the outer end.
Flowers
Males yellowish-green, on long thread-like catkins; females reddish on short spikes; both appear in spring with the leaves.
Fruit
Small rounded ½ inch acorn, set in a thin, saucer-shaped cup that tapers to a short stem; ripens during the second year.
Bark
Rough, though not deeply furrowed; varies from light gray on younger trees to dark gray or almost black on older ones.
Twigs
Reddish brown to gray-brown; young twigs often gray and fuzzy; end buds ¼ inch long, clustered, dark reddish brown, pointed, fuzzy.
Values and Uses
The wood is heavy, hard, strong and coarse-grained. It is used for construction lumber, veneers and furniture. The small acorns are eaten by many species of wildlife, including songbirds. This tree is commonly planted for shade in the landscape.
Did You Know?
Cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda) is sometimes treated as a variety of southern red oak. Cherrybark oak is found on bottomland soils, especially along rivers. It has pagoda-shaped leaves and rough bark similar to that of black cherry. It is considered an excellent timber species.
