Quercus rubra | Red Oak

Native to North America, the Quercus rubra is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree noted for its autumn colour. It has large, deeply lobed leaves that are more pointed and less round than the Quercus robur. The leaves are dark green in summer, and autumn colour varies from bright red to yellow and brown. The Quercus rubra has slender, male catkins that hang in clusters, and tiny, female flowers, found singly or in clusters. It takes 20 years for the tree to produce flowers and a further 20 to produce acorns that take two years to ripen. This is a hardy tree that will grow best on well-drained, fertile soil in sun or partial shade. The Quercus rubra has a large, broad canopy that has become a popular ornamental tree due to its autumn colour.