Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii)
First place Shumard oak in Denver at Denver Botanic Garden York Street.
Species info:
Leaves: Alternate, simple, 4–6 inches long, 3–4 inches wide; typically with 7 lobes that are bristle-tipped; leathery and lustrous dark green, turning vivid red, russet-red, or yellow-bronze in fall
Leaflets: N/A (simple leaves)
Leaf Surface: Glossy and leathery on top; smooth beneath
Bark: Gray and smooth when young, becoming gray-brown and rough with vertical furrows as it matures
Flowers: Inconspicuous; male flowers in catkins, female flowers small and produced in leaf axils
Fruit: Large acorns ¾–1 inch long; enclosed one-quarter to one-third by a shallow, scaly cup; mature in one season
Botanical: Quercus shumardii
Family: Fagaceae
Mature Height: 40–60 feet
Canopy Spread: 30–40 feet; broadly pyramidal when young, spreading with age
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Tree Shape: Pyramidal in youth, becoming open and rounded with maturity
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruit: Edible, but requires preparation
Fall Color: Deep crimson-red, russet-red, or bronze; highly ornamental and long-lasting
Water Use: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
Hardiness: Zones 5–9
Soil Preference: Performs well in a wide range of soils, including those with high pH; more tolerant of alkaline soils than northern red oak
Wildlife Value: Acorns are an important food source for squirrels, deer, turkeys, and other wildlife
Insects and Diseases: Generally pest-resistant; chlorosis rarely occurs, even in alkaline soils
Notable Traits: Excellent urban and landscape oak for Colorado; tolerant of drought and high-pH soils; outstanding fall color; easier to transplant than many other oak species; valuable lumber tree in its native range
Planting recommendation: Recommended for most sites, but ensure that nursery stock comes from a northern source
Information Sources:
Michael A. Dirr, Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs. Timber Press. 2011.
Michael Dirr, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (University of Georgia, 1990)
Tim Buchanan, City of Fort Collins Forestry Division
Arthur Plotnik, The Urban Tree Book: An Uncommon Field Guide for City and Town
