Quercus coccinea

Scientific name: Quercus coccinea

Common name: Scarlet Oak

Native: Yes

Native range: Native to the southeastern United States and parts of New England [1,2,3].

Distribution in North America: Click to view the USDA Plants Database page for Q. coccinea.

USDA Zones: 5-8 [1]

Maximum age: Though typically considered to be short-lived for an oak species (living 80 years on average) [4], some specimens have been estimated to be between 100-200 years of age [5].

Ecology: Like all native oaks, the scarlet oak supports a wide variety of native insects, including the walking stick, Diapheromera femorata, and a variety of native moths, including the io moth (Automeris io) [2,3,4,7]. The acorns are an important source of food for many wildlife species, including deer, small mammals, and large birds such as turkeys and ducks [4].

Ethnobotany: It is mainly valued for its use as an ornamental thanks to its vibrant fall foliage [3]. Indigenous Americans use the acorns for food, in the same way as other oak species [6].