Quercus shumardii

Common Names

Shumard Oak, Shumard's Oak, Shumard Red Oak, Southern Red Oak, Swamp Red Oak, Spotted Oak

Summary

Shumard oak is a large native deciduous red oak with an open crown that broadens with age, typically 60–80 ft tall and 40–50 ft wide; leaves are 4–8 in long and deeply lobed with bristle-tipped lobes; fall color is red to red-orange, and bark is gray and furrowed; native to the eastern and central United States, hardy in zones 5B–9B, with drought tolerance and urban adaptability.

Grows in full sun and tolerates a wide range of soils from clay to sand and from acidic to alkaline, and is drought-tolerant once established; uses include street tree, shade tree, buffer strips, medians, reclamation, and specimen plantings; propagation is by seed; prune to a single central leader and perform pruning in the dormant season; acorns can be a litter problem; oak wilt is a potential risk; pests include mites, scales, aphids, borers, and leaf miners; acorn production begins around 25 years, with best crops around 50, and occurs every 2–3 years.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

40-80 feet

Spread

40-50 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring (March–April; occasionally June in parts of range)

Foliage Color

Dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Red to red-orange.

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies, Attracts birds