NAME:
COMMON – Red Oak
BOTANICAL – Quercus falcata
FAMILY – Fagaceae

DERIVATION:
Introduced 1904. Naturalized Virginia to Florida and further west to southern Illinois.

GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS:
Young trees are typically pyramidal in form, but with age become rounded, 60-80’ tall and wide with wide-spreading branches. Slow growing.

GROWTH LOCATION:
Seems to prefer drier, poorer soil and is fairly drought-tolerant once established. Prefers full sun to partial shade.

ATTRIBUTES, VALUE, UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS:
Long-lived oak that provides acorns that are eaten by many birds and mammals. Supports a wide variety of butterflies. Fall leaves hold long and are reddish-brown.  Often used in furniture, flooring, fuel, etc..  Resistant to deer.  Non edible for humans.

Native Americans used red maple bark as a wash for inflamed eyes and as a remedy for hives and muscular aches. They would brew tea from the inner bark to treat coughs and diarrhea. Pioneers made brown and black dyes from bark extract. 

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