Southern Red Oak
Quercus falcata
Southern red oak is a large, drought-tolerant upland oak of the Southeast, with deeply cut, bell-based leaves and a spreading crown. A fast-growing shade tree and heavy acorn producer for wildlife. Its acorns are traditional food once the bitter tannins are leached out and the seed ground into flour.
- Family
- Fagaceae
- Type
- tree
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 60–80 ft
- Spacing
- 40–50 ft apart
- Light
- part shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral
- Bloom
- March, April, May
- Bloom colors
- yellow
- Wildlife value
- butterflies, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~557 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- specimen
- Native states
- AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
Related native plants
More Quercus species
- Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
- Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
- White Oak (Quercus alba)
- Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)
- Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)
- Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)