Quercus falcata

Common Names

Southern Red Oak, Spanish Oak, Red Oak, Bottomland Red Oak, Swamp Red Oak, Swamp Spanish Oak, Water Oak, Cherrybark Oak, Elliott Oak

Summary

Quercus falcata, commonly Southern Red Oak, is a large deciduous oak native to the southeastern United States. It typically grows 60–80 feet tall with a broad, open rounded crown and a straight trunk. Leaves are 5–9 inches long with 3–9 bristle-tipped lobes and a longer central lobe, giving a distinctive sickle-shaped appearance; the leaf surfaces are dark green above and paler below, and fall color is reddish. It bears acorns about 1/2 inch long that mature over two growing seasons, and tolerates drought, thriving in full sun and well-drained acidic soils such as sandy loam, loam, or clay loam. In cultivation, Southern Red Oak grows best in USDA zones 6–9, in full sun to partial shade and well-drained acidic soils; it is used as a shade tree, street tree, and for wildlife support. It has relatively low maintenance once established but possesses a deep taproot, making transplanting mature trees difficult; pruning is best done in late winter to early spring, and the tree is susceptible to oak wilt with pest and disease pressures including caterpillars and leaf spots. Propagation is by acorns requiring 30–60 days of stratification, and it can sprout from roots after damage, contributing to regeneration in fire-affected landscapes; its acorns and canopy provide wildlife habitat and food.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

60-80 feet

Spread

40-50 feet, 60-70 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun. Tolerates Partial Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, acidic soil, typically sandy or loam.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Acidic soil (pH less than 6.0)

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Dark green on the upper surface with pale green underneath; foliage turns red in autumn.

Fall Foliage Color

Red

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Sprouting (root resprouting)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds, Attracts butterflies