Quercus rubra
Owner: Doug & Pat McCarthy
Nominator: Doug & Pat McCarthy
Height: 30 m (98.4 ft)
Diameter: 183.28 cm (72 in)
Circumference: 575.5 cm (226.6 in)
Description
The Red Oak is one of Ontario’s largest and most valuable trees for wood products. It is a common species in the deciduous forests of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest region. Mature trees reach heights of 18-25 m, and occasionally surpass that. The leaves are deep green on both sides, 12-18 cm long and 7-11 cm wide, and divided into 7-11 lobes which are sharply pointed. On young trees the bark is smooth and slate grey, as the tree matures the bark is divided into long, flat ridges. It produces acorns that are 2-3 cm long and take two years to mature, remaining on the tree during the winter, unlike the white oak which loses its acorns before winter. The acorns are an important food source for wildlife including deer, turkeys, songbirds, quail, grouse, chipmunks, squirrels and woodpeckers. Red oak prefers fresh sites with fine, deep soils that have a loam or silt-loam texture. It can grow on sandy or gravelly soils provided there is good drainage. Its symmetrical shape makes it an excellent ornamental tree. The wood from red oaks is used for flooring, furniture, millwork, railway ties, tool handles, fence posts, plywood, veneer and barrels. (Source: LandOwner Resource Centre)
Red Oak leaves
(Source: MNR)