Quercus rubra | Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum

A northern red oak located outside of the Houston Gym.

The leaves of a northern red oak.

The red stems of a northern red oak.

Scientific name: Quercus rubra

Common name: Northern Red Oak

Native: Yes

Native range: Native to southeastern Canada, as well as the northeastern and central United States [1,2,3,4].

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

USDA Zones: 5-8A [3]

Maximum age: On average, northern red oak lives to approximately 260 years [6].

Ecology: The northern red oak hosts a variety of beetles, weevils, butterflies, moths, and gall wasps, including the io moth (Automeris io) and the luna moth (Actias luna) [4,7]. The foliage provides cover and nesting habitat for birds that, along with deer and small mammals, consume its acorns [1,2].

Ethnobotany: The northern red oak's showy fall foliage and tolerance to urban conditions make it a desirable ornamental [4], and it is a valuable source of hardwood for everything from furniture to flooring to railroad ties [1,2]. Many Indigenous American groups use the acorns as a source of food, the inner bark in medicinal decoctions, and the wood for building and crafting [1,2,5].