red oak (Quercus rubra)

First place champion (tied) red oak in Fort Collins at City Park.

Species info:

Leaves: Alternate, simple, 7–11 broad lobes, each tipped with a bristle; lustrous dark green above, grayish-green or pale beneath.

Leaflets: N/A (simple leaves)

Leaf Surface: Smooth and shiny on top; lighter, duller underside.

Bark: Distinctive wide, flat gray ridges with shallow fissures that deepen and darken as the tree matures.

Flowers: Inconspicuous; male flowers in yellow-green catkins appearing in spring.

Fruit: Single or paired acorns, ¾–1 inch long, medium brown with a flat, saucer-like cap covering about one-fourth of the nut.

Botanical: Pinus ponderosa

Family: Pinaceae

Mature Height: 50–75 feet

Canopy Spread: 50–75 feet

Foliage Type: Deciduous

Fruit: Edible, but requires processing

Tree Shape: Symmetrical shade tree; initially pyramidal or irregular, broad and rounded at maturity

Growth Rate: Medium to fast for an oak (12–24 inches per year in ideal conditions)

Fall Color: Bright red to wine-red; occasionally bronze or brown

Water Use: Moderate; prefers consistent moisture but not poorly drained soils

Hardiness: Zone 3

Soil Preference: Prefers well-drained sandy loam soils with a pH below 6.5; will develop chlorosis in alkaline soils

Wildlife Value: High—acorns provide valuable food for birds, deer, and small mammals

Pests/Pathogens: Generally pest-free; Kermes scale is the most common issue in Colorado’s Front Range

Planting Recommendations: Performs well along the Front Range where soil pH is managed; plant in full sun with ample space to accommodate large mature size; avoid heavy clay or compacted alkaline soils

Information Sources:

• Michael Dirr, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (University of Georgia, 1998)

• University of Connecticut Plant Database