"Did you know?" - Red Oak
Of the fifteen species of native Ohio oaks, the red oak, and seven other oak species are found in all but a handful of Ohio counties. It is a prominent forest tree. More properly referred to as Quercus borealis var. Maxima. This title allows a clearer distinction between red oak variants and sub-species, this being the variant occupying the bulk of Ohio Forests (see Braun, The Woody Plants of Ohio). There is a high rate of variability among oaks, a very flexible genus, likely at least partially accounting for its broad spread and forest prominence and its long-term survivability. Individual oak species also tend to cross with each other. Although red oak may tend more so to develop variants within its specific genetics, it may well also be found to cross with other species, particularly with black oak (Quercus velutina) and with shingle oaks (Quercus imbricaria).
Nonetheless, the red oak is a magnificent tree, typically growing faster than the other oaks, often at a surprising rate, yet maintaining hard wood quality. Leaf color in fall ranges from a rust red to a rich, bright red glow, depending on soil factors, such as pH, moisture, and mineral content. They are deer resistant (not deer-proof) more so than the more acidic white oaks. Red oaks are often among the most beautiful trees in autumn, either in the woods or in your yard due to striking fall color on large leaves, (8” x 5”), with 7 to 11 nicely toothed lobes, on a broad, rounded canopy.
An older red oak can readily reach 90’ height with a 60’ spread, with the highest trunk level. In a forest setting, it may be ‘King” often growing above all other trees, with the lowest limb 50’ above the forest floor. Red oaks anchor very strongly, with lower-level sinker roots descending at around 180° from the surface soil, off deeper, spreading and nearly horizontal father roots. A 200-year age is easily passed, it provides tremendous acorn mast for a great wildlife number and hosts a staggering number of important pollinators. It may surpass the mass of the giant sycamore, and only the tulip tree is likely to stand taller, though of much lesser mass.
Red oak is easy to transplant as it roots quicker than other hardwoods and soon shoots for the sky. It will not handle heavily compacted or structurally destroyed soils such as those subject to most of today’s construction methods. It is not tolerant of very dry soil. But red oak is the most widespread of all Midwest native oaks.
