Red Oak

Northern Red Oak

Quercus rubra

    A common sight throughout North America, the red oak is among the most iconic American trees. The red oak I sampled was found about a half mile into the trail in Point Au Roche State Park outside of Plattsburgh. I’ve been to the Point nearly a dozen times in my four years at SUNY Plattsburgh. My roommates and friends frequently went to have a fire, shoot photography or walk the dog, but this was the first time visiting that the focus was on trees. My roommate, Chris, is an ecology major and he helped me with some of the identification, but even he struggled with some of the trees we discovered. There was no difficulty identifying the iconic red oak though and both of us were able to name it with relative ease.

From first glance I would assume it had not reached maturity. By the eye test, it was around 50 feet high. Most red oaks grow to a height of 65 to 75 feet with a 40 to 50 feet spread. The tree is among the fastest growing in the region, often increasing yearly by nearly two feet. Its spread is wide and rounded and its crown often grows irregularly. Located so close to the tree, constant traffic on its root system and contact with people could hampen its growth or long term health.

Although its the state tree of New Jersey, red oaks are native to the Chicago region. The tree has since spread across the midwest into the northeast and Canada.

    Every fall, red oaks turns from a vibrant green to a colorful red. The red oak I found, late in september, was just starting its transformation to crimson. In just a few weeks, that red oak and many others will lighten up the Adirondack landscapes.

    Leaves of the red oak alternate and are around five to ten inches long with seven to nine big lobes. The tree itself is brown with a tint of red, owing to its name, with thin, scaly ridges that form its bark.

    Red oak trees play a huge role in the food chain. Its acorns turn from green to a dark brown with a saucer crown. Dropped seasonally by the red oak, its acorns fuel the diet for blue jays, wild turkeys, squirrels, rodents, bears, deer and raccoons.

    In the Adirondacks, red oaks are susceptible to wilt -- an incurable fungus that can kill the tree. In environments not as acidic as desired, they may suffer from chlorosis, which yellows the leave early when its veins remain green. Red oaks in the northeast have also suffered from insect predation and both overpopulation and saturation have made it difficult for its acorns to spread and disperse.

    Ideal soil conditions include acidic, well-drained clay deposits. Red oaks thrive when they get an abundance of sun. Saplings struggle to grow in dense woodland where they cannot reach full sunlight, making them more common in open fields than in dense woodland. Their dense and wide crowns often cast a strong shadow on the ground beneath, making them a great tree for a backyard picnic area.

    Red oaks are favorites among loggers for their size, quick growth and strong frame. They’re subject to moisture so they’re not good for shipbuilding or anything outdoor. Instead, they’re best for indoor lumber and veneer.

Easily transplantable, red oaks have been brought to Europe where they’ve managed to thrive in several locations. The first in Europe is believed to have been planted in England in the late 17th century and today it among the most invasive tree species in the continent. Red oaks now dominante many landscapes in Poland, Belgium, Ukraine and Lithuania. 

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