A large Scarlet Red Oak tree with vibrant red autumn leaves stands beside a paved road in a suburban neighborhood, with a white fence, a house, and other fall-colored trees in the background.

Scarlet Oak Tree

2-3ft
$54.95
$54.95
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A large Scarlet Red Oak tree with vibrant red autumn leaves stands beside a paved road in a suburban neighborhood, with a white fence, a house, and other fall-colored trees in the background.
  • A large Scarlet Red Oak tree with vibrant red autumn leaves stands beside a paved road in a suburban neighborhood, with a white fence, a house, and other fall-colored trees in the background.
  • Vibrant red autumn leaves of a scarlet red oak tree backlit by warm sunlight, set against a soft-focus forest background of brown trunks and golden foliage.
  • Plant size guide showing different plant heights with corresponding measurements.
  • Scarlet Red Oak tree in a large grassy field
  • A large Scarlet Red Oak tree with vibrant red autumn leaves stands beside a paved road in a suburban neighborhood, with a white fence, a house, and other fall-colored trees in the background.
  • Vibrant red autumn leaves of a scarlet red oak tree backlit by warm sunlight, set against a soft-focus forest background of brown trunks and golden foliage.
  • Plant size guide showing different plant heights with corresponding measurements.
  • Scarlet Red Oak tree in a large grassy field
Scarlet Oak Tree

Scarlet Oak Tree

$54.95
$54.95
Size

Quercus coccinea

The Scarlet Oak is a magnificent, fast-growing deciduous shade tree celebrated for its brilliant, deep scarlet autumn color and resilience in urban environments. Featuring a stately, open crown and deeply lobed leaves, this native hardwood provides exceptional visual appeal throughout the changing seasons and stands as a durable centerpiece for expansive landscapes.

As spring arrives, delicate catkins emerge alongside tender new leaves that unfurl with a soft reddish tint before maturing to a glossy, vibrant green. Throughout the summer, its dense canopy offers refreshing, deep shade. When autumn temperatures drop, the foliage transforms into one of the most vivid, fiery red displays in the plant kingdom, often holding onto its colorful leaves well into the winter months.

The Ecological Footprint

  • Wildlife Sanctuary: Provides a vital canopy habitat, nesting sites, and shelter for a wide variety of native songbirds, hawks, and small mammals.

  • The Acorn Feast: Produces high-energy acorns that are heavily relied upon by squirrels, wild turkeys, deer, and jays as a critical food source heading into winter.

  • Pollinator Support: Serves as a primary host plant for numerous beneficial insect species and caterpillars, which in turn feed fledgling birds.

  • Urban Hardiness: Demonstrates remarkable tolerance for urban pollution, poor soil conditions, and compacted earth, making it an effective choice for cityscapes and roadsides.

The Honest Harvest (What to Expect)

  • The Perks: Exceptionally vibrant red fall color, highly adaptable to dry or acidic soils once established, fast-growing for an oak, and creates a clean, stately silhouette.

  • The Caveats: Does not transplant easily due to a deep taproot; requires adequate open space as it matures; prefers acidic soils and may show signs of chlorosis in overly alkaline conditions.

Specifications

  • Botanical Name: Quercus coccinea

  • Common Names: Scarlet Oak, Red Oak, Black Oak

  • Mature Height: 50-70 feet

  • Mature Width: 40-60 feet

  • Growth Rate: Medium to fast (13-24 inches per year)

  • Lifespan: 100-200+ years

  • USDA Zones: 4-9

  • Chill Hours: *

  • Sun Preference: Full sun

  • Soil Type: Well-drained sandy, loamy, or clay soils; highly adaptable

  • Soil pH: Acidic to neutral (preferred pH 4.8 to 6.5)

  • Water Needs: Moderate; drought-tolerant once a deep root system is established

  • Flower Color: Inconspicuous yellowish-green catkins; spring

  • Fruit Type: Acorns (roundish, 1/2 to 1 inch long with a deep cap); autumn

  • Pollinators: Wind-pollinated

  • Growth Habit: Pyramidal when young, broadening into an open, rounded crown with age

  • Spacing: 40-50 feet apart for proper canopy development

  • Landscape Uses: Shade tree, large lawns, parks, golf courses, street tree, native naturalizing

  • Maintenance Level: Low (occasional pruning of lower branches for clearance as needed)

Planting & Care Guide

  • Hydration: Water deeply and thoroughly right after planting. Maintain consistent moisture during the first growing season to encourage deep taproot development.

  • Siting: Select a spacious location with full sun exposure and deep, well-draining soil where the tree has plenty of room to expand its massive root and branch system.

  • Mulching: Apply a 3-to-4-inch layer of organic mulch around the root zone to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture, keeping the mulch several inches away from the trunk.

  • Establishment: Protect young trees from heavy winds with staking if necessary, and ensure regular watering during dry spells for the first two years until fully established.

  • Pruning: Prune only during the dormant winter season to minimize the risk of disease transmission. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches to maintain a strong central leader.

  • Fertilization: Generally not required unless soil tests indicate severe nutrient deficiencies. A top-dressing of organic compost around the drip line in early spring can help boost poor soils.

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