Often refer to as the “ king of trees , ” the mighty oak is held in high respect for its strength and longevity .
With hundreds of stunning species out there , there ’s plenty of options forQuercusfans to choose from and adore .
But how does one tell one species from another ? Which mixed bag are native to North America , and which might be suited to school in the house landscape ?
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In my opinion , mintage of oak are a lot like pasta shapes .
Sure , you could slap the generic name “ oak tree ” onto aQuercusjust like you could call a bowl of random noodles “ pasta , ” but it would n’t be giving due mention to that specific change ’s awesomeness .
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And just like with alimentary paste , being able to enjoin different types of oaks aside come in handy .
For general info on growing oak trees , see our template .
In this article , we ’ll go over a fistful of the most vulgar oak tree diagram , how to identify them , and what take in them so peculiar .
After reading it , you ’ll be able-bodied to say these different species aside at a glance , which will surely impress those not in the know .
23 Common Oak Tree Species
Before we dive into the single species , let ’s go over the two major groups of oaks that metal money are often divided into : ruby-red and white .
Species from the red or Erythrobalanus group unremarkably have bristly and jagged leaf lobe tips , pointed bud , approximately - textured and darker - colored bark , low sizing at maturity , and bitter - tasting acorns that take two years to fully get on .
Alternatively , species from the white or Leucobalanus group tend to have wavelike and rounded leafage lobe , rounded bud , freakish and light - color barque , larger mature sizes , and sweet - savor acorns that age in a exclusive year .
Becoming familiar with these features is n’t enough to differentiate specieswithinthese two groups . However , it ’s very helpful for quickly ruling out what yourQuercusisnot .
Here we go !
1. Black
A fellow member of the Erythrobalanus group , Q. velutinahas a tall , straight trunk and an undefended crown that can be round off or irregular in shape .
Its oval - shaped acorn are cherry-red - brown and striped , with a tan cap that cover half of the acorn .
Native to the easterly United States , the tree flaunts lustrous green leaves with seven to nine bristle - tilted lobes and fuzzy undersides .
This velvety texture also coats leaf buds and is a key feature of speech for recognition – velutinameans “ velvety , ” after all . Another helpful feature is the mordant bark at maturity , hence the vernacular name .
Features at a Glance
The black oak is n’t a pregnant tree in landscaping , but it ’s a real aesthetic treat when you receive one out in nature !
2. Bur
Also know as the mossycup oak , Q. macrocarpais a member of the white oak group that hail from northerly and central regions of the US , and southeastern Canada .
This Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has a broad , strong treetop and rounded , dark-skinned green foliage that ’s only significantly lob in the humiliated half of each leaf .
Additionally , it has huge chocolate-brown acorns – hence the namemacrocarpa , or “ large fruit ” – that are almost wholly cross with tan caps .
These have prominently - fringed margins , and each bet a spate like a “ mossy loving cup , ” if you will . These acorn and the uniquely - lobed leafage are bushed giveaways forQ. macrocarpaidentification .
As you’re able to imagine , such an interesting Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree can be quite valuable . set it inUSDA Hardiness Zones3 to 8 with full sun , unanimous drainage , and moist , fertile soils .
sport fact : here in Boone County , Missouri , there ’s a legendary burr oak make love as The Big Tree , a beloved , 400 - year - old specimen that ’s almost 90 foot marvellous and 130 feet wide of the mark ! I ’ve had the perquisite of project it in person , and it ’s a self-aggrandising ol’ son for sure .
3. Chinkapin
acclaim from the eastern United States , Q. muehlenbergiiis a member of the white oak group , but it has oblong spear - shaped shiny green leaves with coarsely toothed margins , rather than rounded lobes .
Its crown is open and globe - shaped , and it has small , ellipse - regulate acorns that mature to black and are midway continue with tan , scaly cup .
examine to bestow some beautifully - jagged chinquapin leaves to your own landscape ? Make indisputable the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is leave full sunlight , ample drainage , and a moist , prolific loam in USDA Zones 5 to 7 .
Learn more about grow chinkapin oaks in our guide .
4. Columnar
The narrow , fastigiate form of an English oak tree , Q. roburf.fastigiatais a skinny tree from the Leucobalanus group that show off sharply upright branching and densely pack green leaves , with six to 14 deaden lobes and blue - green undersides .
The top third of its shiny , brown , elongated acorns are covered with a tan cap .
Having trouble telling this coinage aside fromQ. alba ? see the groundwork of each folio for a pair of earlobe - esque lobes , which is a light sign that these trees are cut from English oak tree cloth .
These trees are hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 8 . They grow well in full sun and well - draining soils of average fecundity with moderate moisture .
All in all , this is a lanky interlingual rendition of a gorgeous Old World tree diagram that ’s perfect for narrow planting spaces !
5. Cork
Q. suberis an interesting entering on our list as it ’s the first of the resilient oaks , which are mintage ofQuercuswith evergreen leaf .
And as such , alive oak such asQ. suberdon’t fit into the deciduous blood-red or white groups .
aboriginal to northerly Africa and southern Europe , the cork oak has saturnine green , oval - shaped , wavy - toothed , leathery leaves of a shiny , dark green hue . to boot , it flaunts long , tan - cap , and scarlet to black acorns .
The tree diagram is key for its thick and corky bark , which is train in Europe and Africa for its commercial-grade applications in vino bottle corks and the same .
This bark , in combination with the evergreen plant leaves , are how you spotQ. suber .
Corky public-service corporation aside , it ’s also a splendid street tree diagram , park planting , or worthy choice to provide spook for a residence .
verify it ’s deposit in USDA zone 8 to 10 , given full sun to fond shade , water little , and provided with acidulous loam to grow in .
6. Holly
Another live oak with evergreen plant leaf , Q. ilexflaunts a rounded jacket that branches pretty tight to the basis for aQuercus .
Native to the Mediterranean , holly oaks have dark green leaves that resemble holly , hence the common name .
Its large acorns are long , with gray caps that encompass a third of the drear red to brownish nuts .
TheIlex - like leave-taking are the most helpful hint for picking this coinage out of a lineup .
If you ’ve ever wanted holly - like foliage paired with the wood of aQuercus , you ca n’t do good than the holly oak tree .
For any concerned agriculturist , this species is hardy in USDA Zones 7 to 10 and necessitate to be situated in a rich and moist loam with full sun to fond nuance photograph .
7. Live
Just asQ. albaandQ. rubraare the flagship specie for the Erythrobalanus and Leucobalanus groups , Q. virginianais the poster child among evergreen live oak .
To avoid mental confusion with other species , the common name “ southerly live oak tree ” comes in handy here .
Native to the southeasterly US and Mexico , the southerly live oak tree is an evergreenQuercusthat offset low , spreads wide , and is often found drape with Spanish moss in its aboriginal range .
This tree has leathery , glossy , and elliptical - shaped leaves of a grim green chromaticity , with suave border that are rather uncharacteristic for aQuercus .
Its acorn are long and extremely dark , with tan detonating equipment that case the top third .
A symbolic planting of the American south , this tree is often found lining the long driveway of southerly - style mansions and former plantations .
I ’m pretty sureQ. virginianaprovided the background for many scenes in “ Django Unchained , ” but it ’s been a minute since I ’ve find out that film .
If you want to school one , be sure to produce it in USDA Zones 8 to 10 , place it in well - run out soil , and provide it with temperate moisture and full sun .
This tree is especially long - live for an oak tree , so any hopeful growers and their descendent will be sure to enjoy it for geezerhood to arrive !
hold up Oak
LiveQ. virginianatransplants areavailable from FastGrowingTrees.com .
8. Mexican White
A Mexican native oak tree , Q. polymorphais a member of the Leucobalanus group , with a broad and rounded diadem .
The specie epithetpolymorpharefers to the way that private leave vary in form among and between single specimens .
In general , these verdant and ovate leaves are semi - evergreen , with gross profit margin that vary in smoothness and serration .
This tree also produces light brown acorn that are covered midway with a light gray hood .
This fast - growing tree is the wild and novelQuercusto add to a garden in USDA zone 7 to 10 .
If you want to cultivate one of your own , make certain to put it in a full Sunday location with well - draining territory , and be trusted toread our guide to Mexican white oak to teach more .
9. Nuttall
Also known asQ. texana , the Nuttal oak hails from the southerly and central regions of the United States , and is a wide - circulate , rounded , and open - canopy member of the Erythrobalanus grouping .
Its lustrous greenish leaf have five to nine bristly lobes with deep , wide break between them , and the tree bring on brown , striped acorns that are covered a bit less than halfway with tan caps .
The tree ’s lulu and cultural ruggedness make it a fine gain to landscape painting .
To add one to yours , make certain it ’s embed in USDA zona 6 to 9 with full sun . Moist , rich loam is ideal , though it can put up a variety of filth type .
Nuts for Nuttall oak tree ? It ’s useable in one- and three - gallon sizesfrom Perfect Plants Nursery .
10. Overcup
An oak tree from the Leucobalanus group , Q. lyratahails from the central and southern United States , often found growing in bottomland .
With a rounded habit and uniform forking , these trees look especially gracious in a row or chemical group .
The bass green leaf have muzzy bloodless undersides and six to 10 bluntly pointed lobes , with the large pair in the middle .
The dark-brown acorns are rounded , and almost wholly encased by their tan caps .
Fast and uniform development , simpleness of transplant , and allowance of shoddy soils all make this a worthwhile planting in USDA zone 5 to 9 .
Make indisputable to provide full sun and moist , acidulous loams for optimal maturation .
11. Pin
Also known asQ. palustris , stick oak are a layup , designation - wise .
Native to the northeasterly United States and southeasterly Canada , these member of the red oak radical have a panoptic pyramidal pennant and branch that are ascending towards the top , more or less horizontal towards the middle , and fall towards the bottom .
Each glossy , dark unripened folio is lean and has five bristly lobes with very deep gaps between them , creating the appearance of first-rate slender foliage even though the leaves themselves are n’t small .
The acorns have ace shallow topaz caps , and the nuts themselves are clean brown with a nearly round , domed form .
The distinctive growth habit , leaves , and acorn all combine to make this tree diagram a very pop commercial-grade planting , for open landscape and urban area likewise .
Full sun and a moist , loamy planting site in USDA zone 4 to 8 are recommended .
Pin Oak
Interested in this tree diagram ? Four- to seven - animal foot pin oaks areavailable from FastGrowingTrees.com .
12. Post
A member of the white oak group , Q. stellatais a rounded and densely - crowned tree that ’s aboriginal to the easterly United States .
The durable wood of this tree was valued by pioneers and often used for fence post construction in the previous 18th to other 19th century , hence the name .
The dark green , roughly - textured leaves of this industrial plant have three to five extremely rounded lobes , with narrow-minded , slitted sinuses between them .
The acorns develop are oval - shape , with tan caps that cut through one-half to a third of the browned nuts .
This tree diagram is seldom used in the landscape , but is quite attractive when stumbled upon out in the wild .
13. Red
As red oak - y as they add up , Q. rubrawields a rounded , symmetrical to atypical crown .
A native of eastern North America , this tree flaunts glossy glowering green leaves with seven to 11 bristly - toothed lobe and shallow leaf sinuses .
A light brown cap that depend suspiciously like a beret cover the top one-quarter of the grey - streak brown acorns .
A speedy grower fit for golf game courses , street , and parks , Q. rubrais an easy tree to work , ply that you ’re located in USDA zone 4 to 8 , provide full sun , and put it in well - draining and rich sandy loam .
Northern Red Oak
If you wish to farm one of your own , you’re able to find saplingsavailable from Fast Growing Treesin a variety of sizing .
get word more about ruddy oak tree care here .
14. Sawtooth
North America has the largest number of native oak metal money , but they come from other continents , too . Take the AsianQ. acutissima , for instance – it hails from Japan , China , Korea , Thailand , and the Himalayas .
Believe it or not , there ’s also a “ Cerris ” group ofQuercus , a part of species with trait that straddle the line between the red and white oak group . It ’s in this group thatQ. acutissimabelongs , with its broad , rounded habit .
The oblong , glossy , dark green leaves have 12 to 16 prominent veins with bristles that protrude from the serrated security deposit .
As you could have believably guessed , each leaf has a sawtoothed visual aspect that ’s quite easy recognizable .
The acorns are very alone , too – up to two - thirds of each browned testicle is covered with a shaggy - scaled gray cap .
Due to its vigorous acorn yield and foreign descent , this tree has invasive acquire potential across the United States , and is listed as invasive in many states .
This makes knowing what it look like important . AlthoughQ. acutissimais a handsome tree , you ’re well off selecting aboriginal oak tree instead .
15. Scarlet
A member of the Erythrobalanus group , Q. coccineahails from the easterly United States and southerly Canada , and shake a rounded , open riding habit .
The tree diagram flaunt lustrous , dark green leaves that await like a cross between those ofQ. rubraandQ. palustris , with seven to nine bristly lobes and moderately - sized sinuses .
The top third to one-half of the reddish - brownish junky are covered with a brownish - tan chapiter , and there ’s a distinctive ring that palisade each acorn ’s point .
An aesthetic , drouth - tolerant planting for lawns and streets , scarlet oaks prefer full Sunday , acidic sandlike soil , fiddling wet , and placement in USDA Zones 4 to 9 .
16. Sessile
Q. petraeais a white-hot oak tree from Europe and Western Asia , with a similarly fill out habit to that ofQ. rubra .
The leaves , however , are very different – low-cal gullible , ellipse - form , and with four to six couple of rounded lobe .
The reddish - chocolate-brown acorn are retentive and acaulescent , i.e.sessile , with a tan cap spanning a third of the testis .
This tree is not very common in US refinement , but it ’s a delight for those who happen to stumble across it .
It ’s unquestionably more darling across the pool , though – it ’s the national tree of Ireland !
17. Shingle
A tree that ’s native to the eastern one-half of the US , Q. imbricariahas a conical form that broadens with age .
The fizgig - shaped , glossy dark green leaves have a bristly lead , a nod to its Erythrobalanus membership , while its rounded , dark brown acorn are cover less than midway with a tan cap .
Species ofQuercusdon’t normally make for great hedges , butQ. imbricariais a delightful exception .
With long - lasting , dense foliation and a high leeway for pruning , shingle oak can function in the landscape painting as prodigious screen !
Be sure to provide full sun , moderate moisture , and rich soils that drain well in USDA Zones 5 to 8 .
18. Shumard
An Erythrobalanus metal money from the southeast United States , Q. shumardiihas a pyramidal , open crown in its youth that broaden with age .
shoot from said crown are leathery green leave with seven to nine bristly lobes and deeply - turn off sinuses . The basis of each oval - mould , disconsolate browned acorn is cover by a extensive , tan cap .
Very similar to scarlet oaks , shumard oak tree are best differentiated by looking at their buds , which are more sharply pointed .
Any concerned raiser in USDA zone 5 to 9 should be sure to ply full Sunday , while a variety of soils and moisture levels are passable .
Shumard Oak
Shumard oaks areavailable from Fast Growing Treesin a variety show of sizes ..
19. Southern Red
Also cognize as the Spanish oak , Q. falcatais an Erythrobalanus type with a rounded drug abuse that hails from the southeastern US .
The foliage is dark green up top , pallid green below , and the lobe counting vary wildly , with three to nine bristle - tipped lobes per leaf .
The belittled , globe - mold acorn are vertically striped with switch strips of light and dark brown .
Not a common commercial-grade planting , it works quite nicely in the due south , as you probably could have guessed .
20. Swamp White
A swampland - loving member of the white oak group , Q. bicolorearned its specie name from the way its oblong , coarsely - toothed leaves are light green on top , and much silver underneath .
With a curt trunk and a rounded , broad crown , this tree produces promiscuous brown acorn , with a brownish - tan hood on the top third of each .
This metal money from northeastern North America is a pure planting for low , wet smirch in the landscape , although it can permit drouth , as well .
Be sure to give this variety the ol’ full sun treatment that oaks love .
21. Water
Hailing from the southeastern US , Q. nigrahas a shape which varies from conelike to round - topped .
belong to the red oak radical , this tree wield blue - green to green leaves that are actually quite varying in shape and dimensions , but they unremarkably have three lobe towards the solar apex which give the leafage a uniquely society - like embodiment .
to boot , the morose acorn are striped in alternating chromaticity of brown and fatal , with a loose brown cap covering the top one-quarter to third of each nut .
With a name like “ water oak , ” this tree will flourish in moist spot within the landscape painting .
append full sun , rich soils , and a location somewhere in USDA Zones 6 to 9 to the mix , and you ’ve get one happy tree diagram .
22. White
As tight adhering to the qualities of a Leucobalanus as an oak tree can be , Q. albais a tree from the eastern United States that begin out pyramidal , growing rounded and spread imposingly wide with matureness .
The dreary green to blue - green leaf of the white oak are oblong to obovate , with about five to nine rounded lobe and narrow , yet deeply - cut sinus .
The oval-shaped , light brown acorns are compensate with a tan , warty - scale roof that reach out a third of the way down .
Slow to produce and tough to cultivate , this is not the best selection for landscape gardening , although it ’s quite attractive .
But its baseball bat – and mostly that of the intact Leucobalanus group , by the way – is quite resistant to moisture concentration .
Here in Missouri , Q. albais extremely value for its utility in making wine-colored cask , fun fact .
23. Willow
Another Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree from the red oak radical that ’s native to the southeastern United States , Q. phelloshas a coarse name that ’s easy to explicate , what with its scraggy , lance - shape , green leaves that very much resemble willow tree foliage .
The minor acorns of this dense , rounded tree are overstep with a tenuous , saucer - like cap and striped with alternating band of brownish and black .
Most oak tree have leaves that are pretty big – “ large ” is the ornamental strength of many aQuercus , after all .
But if you ’re looking for a thinner - leaved variety , the willow tree oak tree is the perfect tree for the job .
Give it full sun and well - draining loams in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9 , and it ’ll absolutely flourish .
Willow Oak
you could chance transplant useable in a variety of sizesfrom Fast Growing Trees .
find out more about maturate and caring for willow tree oaks .
A-Oak-Kay
How ’s that for an oak tree tree guide , huh ? Enough to kick - start a love of theQuercusgenus , I hope .
There are many oak trees to discover and identify , so keep your eyes peeled when you ’re out and about . And if you ’ve decided to grow one in your landscape , then kudos to you !
Have a short ton of genial computer memory forlandscape tree diagram multifariousness ? These guides are certain to take up those databanks :
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About
Joe Butler
