Quercus coccinea - Scarlet Oak

General Information Common Name  Scarlet Oak Scientific Name  Quercus coccinea Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height  27-45 m (90-150 ft) Spread  10 -15 m (40 - 50 ft) Growth Rate  Fast Bloom Time  Late Spring Color  Green, Red Flower Color  Green Type  Tree Native  United States, Europe

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class  Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass  Hamamelididae Order  Fagales Family  Fagaceae – Beech family Genus  Quercus L. – Oak Species  Q. coccinea

Quercus coccinea - Scarlet Oak

Quercus coccinea common name is the Scarlet Oak. The scarlet oak can be mistaken for the Pin Oak, the Black Oak, or occasionally the Red Oak. It is mainly native to the  United States.

Q. coccinea is a medium-large deciduous oak tree growing to 27–45 m (90 – 150 ft) tall with an open, rounded crown. The leaves are glossy green, 7–17 cm long and 8–13 cm broad. They are arranged alternately and lobed. There are seven lobes in every leaf and deep sinuses between the lobes. Each lobe has 3-7 bristle-tipped teeth. It blooms in spring and the flowers color is greenish-yellow. Individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant. 

The acorns are ovoid, 7–13 mm broad and 17–31 mm long, a third to a half covered in a deep cup, green maturing pale brown about 18 months after pollination; the seed is very bitter. Scarlet oak is often planted as an ornamental tree. It is popular for its bright red fall color. The wood is generally marketed as red oak, but is of inferior quality, being somewhat weaker and not forming as large a tree.

Scarlet Oak : Leaves

Scarlet Oak : Leaves in Fall

Red Leaves of Scarlet Oak

Scarlet Oak : Flowers

Flowers of Scarlet Oak

Scarlet Oak : Acorns 

Acorns of Scarlet Oak

Seeds of Scarlet Oak

Bark of Scarlet Oak

Scarlet Oak

Scarlet Oak in Fall

Scarlet Oak when leaves are red

Scarlet Oak : Red Leaves