Red Oak

The red oak has many names, such as the Northern Red Oak, the common red oak, eastern red oak, mountain red oak, and the grey oak. The red oak is native to the eastern part of the United States. It can grow on a wide variety of soils as well as topography. It oftentimes forms pure stands. It is a moderate to fast growing tree and is extremely important to the lumber industry, and its dense foliage makes it a popular shade tree. It has good form and is easily transported.

The lumber from red oak trees was an integral part of the industrial revolution. It was often used in the production of wheels, plows, railroad ties, barrels, and furniture. Today it is still used for furniture, flooring, architectural millwork, doors, cabinets, caskets, and paneling. In fact, it is still one of the most important trees used for timber production in the United States, making it a very highly valued wood.

The red oak tends to thrive in moderately moist valleys and hillsides where the soil is slightly acidic. It's easy to recognize by its bark because its ridges appear to have shiny stripes running down the center. It is the only tree with striping all the way down its trunk, although other types of oaks have bark that is somewhat similar in appearance. It features leaves with bristle-tipped lobes that are not cut quite as deep as other types of oaks. The acorns are borne in a shallow cup and are often eaten by squirrels, deer, and birds.