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Southern Red Oak

Quercus falcata

Other common name(s):

Bottomland Red Oak, Three-lobed Red Oak, Spanish Oak

Family:

Fagaceae (Beech Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

70
to
80
ft.

Spread

40
to
50
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Acid, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Nuts, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals

Maintenance

This fast growing, long-lived oak requires little maintenance. Prune for shape or to raise canopy. Older trees subject to insect and disease problems. Plant acorns right after harvesting. If storing, store in moist sawdust. Propagation: Acorns.

Comments

Moderately fast growing and easy to transplant when small. Will grow in the worse soils, but tends to take on a weather-beaten unkept appearance. Good shade tree. The deeply lobed leaves turn reddish-brown in the fall. The bark is smooth, dark brown resembling cherry bark, giving the tree the other name of Cherrybark Oak. Tannic acorns develop in two years. Pollination: Butterflies; provides food and cover for birds and insects; acorns are eaten by deer, and other small mammals. Larval Host: Banded hairstreak, White M hairstreak.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Quercus falcata var. triloba, Quercus triloba

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=QUFA. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Quercus+falcata&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=12078&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=19277#null

Get in Touch

Contact the State

Contact a local Chapter

State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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