Woody > Quercus > Quercus coccinea > Quercus coccinea
Quercus coccinea
Scarlet Oak
Origin: Eastern United States of America and southern Canada.
Mike's
Opinion
"
It is a tree tolerant of poor soil conditions and will grow quite easily in Ontario. The autumn colours can be attractive, but I don't see many other strong attributes. It can sometimes be confused with Q. palustris and Q. rubra.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Fagaceae |
| Genus |
| Quercus |
| Species |
| coccinea |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 4 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 2a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 - H3 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-32) - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| (-25) - 30 |
| Height |
| 20-30 m |
| Spread |
| 10-15 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A medium-large oak with an open, rounded crown and bright red autumn colour. This species has been placed on the IUCN Red List as least concern. |
| Landscape |
| It is planted for ornamental purposes (park, street, garden) and sometimes a shade tree. It is fairly popular mainly for its bright red autumn colour. |
| Cultivation |
| Slightly acidic, sandy and well-drained soils in full sun. |
| Shape |
| Slightly pyramidal when young, round when mature. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| The leaves have deep c-shaped sinuses between the lobes. It has bright red autumn colour. |
| Pests |
| Susceptible to oak wilt. Main pests are: oak leafteaters, fall cankerworms, forest tent caterpillars and the gypsy moth. |
| Habitat |
| Dry upland forests, usually on ridges and slopes at an altitude of approximately 1,500 m. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The bark is dark gray to dark brown, finely fissured and scaly ridges with reddish-brown twigs. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Ovoid, pointed and hairy, dark reddish-brown, 4-7 mm in length. |
| Leaf Description |
| Leaves are alternate, simple, oblong or elliptic, with deep-sinuses. They are glossy and smooth on both top and bottom. The top is dark green and the undersides are paler green with small turfs of hairs sometimes appearing in the vein axils, 7-20 x 5-13 cm. |
| Flower Description |
| Monoecious tree. Males are drooping yellow catkins, 6-8 cm. Females are fewer and appear in axils of new leaves. |
| Fruit Description |
| Acorn, oval, reddish-brown, 1.2-2.5 cm long, a third to half of it is covered by a cap. |
| Colour Description |
| It is glossy dark green in the summer and typically scarlet in autumn (when exposed to cold nights). |
| Texture Description |
| Medium to coarse. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. |
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