Quercus coccinea
Scarlet Oak
Mature Size, Growth, Longevity
Habit in youth resembles pin oak, but becomes more open, oval to rounded at maturity. Average mature size of 70-75' tall and 40-50' wide in the landscape, can reach to 100' tall in the wild, with national champions to 120' high and wide. Moderate growth rate of 13" per year, or 1.5-2' per year over 10-20 years in a separate trial. Long lived, to 300 years.
Native Range
Kentucky Native — Native habitat is from Maine to Florida, and west to Minnesota and Missouri, plus most counties in Kentucky. Introduced in 1691.
Flower and Fruit Details
Flowers are monoecious, male catkins pendant and clustered, female solitary. Fruits are 0.5-1" oval acorns, reddish-brown, 1/3-1/2 enclosed by the cap, short-stalked, solitary or paired, rarely striped, usually w/ concentric rings near the apex, borne on 20 yr-old trees.
Leaf and Bark Features
Deciduous: Leaves alternate, simple, 3-6" long, 2.5-4.5" wide, oblong-elliptic, truncate at base, w/ 7-9 bristle-tipped lobes, shiny on both sides, darker green on top. Tufts of hair in vein axils beneath. Major sinuses "C" shape (partially closed by lobes). Fall color is very late developing, scarlet-red, russet-red, or no color at all. Dried, brown leaves often persist on the tree through the winter. Young stems light brown to red-brown. Older stems greenish/lustrous. Bark is grayish brown, thin, smooth. With age it develops narrow, shallow ridges and furrows.
Culture and Care
Usually found in dry sandy soils. Zone 4-9. Not as tolerant of adverse conditions as pin oak or red oak. Also not as available at garden centers. Tolerates drought and sandy soils. More tolerant than pin oak to high pH soils (less iron chlorosis problem). Best in full sun. Takes clay. Much variation in fall color among seedlings; if possible, select your tree from the grower in autumn, so you know what color you are getting. No serious insect or disease problems. Possible problems include galls, anthracnose, oak leaf blister, cankers, leaf spots, powdery mildew, borers, scale & lacebugs.
Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts
Good wildlife value. 3-season interest: Spring, summer and fall. National champion is 120' x 93' in Powell County, Kentucky.
Suggested Uses
Makes a good shade tree.