Alphabetical Plant Listing

Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak)

Scarlet Oak


Noted for its brilliant fall color, Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak) is a large deciduous tree of pyramidal habit in youth, becoming upright-spreading and open with age. The foliage of large, lustrous, dark green leaves, adorned with 7-9 lobes, turns brilliant red and scarlet in the fall. The magnificent fall color display may last 3-4 weeks. Inconspicuous yellow-green catkins appear in spring as the new leaves unfurl with a red hue. The acorns, if produced, are partly enclosed in a bowl-like cap. Prized for its spectacular fall color, poor soil tolerance, and wind resistance, Scarlet Oak is a very popular landscape choice. Useful as a shade or specimen tree, it is perfect for large areas where it adds beauty to the landscape.

  • Grows up to 50-70 ft. tall (15-21 m) and 40-50 ft. wide (12-15 m).
  • A full sun lover, this tree is easily grown in fertile, dry to medium moisture, acidic, well-drained soils. Adaptable to extremes of soil, but it prefers dry, sandy sites.
  • Perfect as a specimen plant.
  • May be affected by aphids, oak gall wasps, powdery mildew and oak wilt.
  • Propagate by seed, sowing as soon as ripe, in a coldframe or grafting in mid-autumn or early winter.
  • Toxic to horses.
  • Native from Maine west to Michigan, south to Missouri and Mississippi, and east to South Carolina and the eastern Atlantic coast.

Not sure which Quercus - Oaks to pick?
Compare All Quercus - Oaks

Buy Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak)

Requirements

Hardiness 5 – 9
Heat Zones 5 – 9
Climate Zones 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Quercus - Oaks
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 50' – 70' (15m – 21m)
Spread 40' – 50' (12m – 15m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Tolerance Drought, Dry Soil
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow

Buy Plants

Guides with Quercus - Oaks


123rf

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 5 – 9
Heat Zones 5 – 9
Climate Zones 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Quercus - Oaks
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 50' – 70' (15m – 21m)
Spread 40' – 50' (12m – 15m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Tolerance Drought, Dry Soil
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow

Guides with Quercus - Oaks

Plant Calculator

How many Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.