← Bedfellow

Shumard Oak

Quercus shumardii

Fast-growing red oak group member with brilliant russet-red fall color. Adaptable to urban conditions including clay and drought once established. 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

40–60 ft

Spacing

30–40 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade

Soil moisture

dry

Soil pH

acidic, neutral, alkaline

Bloom

March, April, May

Bloom colors

white, green

Wildlife value

butterflies, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~557 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

rain garden

Native states

AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV