Major Common Oak Species of North America
White Oak
The next most common oak species is the white oak. The white oak is native to the eastern United States, growing in every state that borders the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and as far west as Indiana and Louisiana. The white oak can grow up to 100 feet tall and can live for more than 500 years. The tree has a straight trunk with branches that spread horizontally from it. The branches of the tree are often low to the ground, making it easy for children and adults to climb them.
The white oak is a deciduous tree that loses its leaves in the fall before becoming bare for winter. However, in early autumn before this occurs, its leaves turn beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow before falling off of their branches.
Red Oak
Red Oak is a deciduous tree, native to North America. It grows best in areas that have cool, moist summers and well-drained soils. It can be identified by its leaves, which are lobed and have bristles at the tip. It is a slow growing tree that can reach a height between 50 and 75 feet with a trunk diameter of 1 to 3 feet.
Red Oak’s timber is one of the most sought after oak varieties because it takes up stains well. As such, it has many uses including flooring, furniture and cabinets (via Wikipedia Commons).
Live Oak
- You can recognize the Southern Live Oak by its deciduous, elliptical leaves. The tree is often evergreen in warmer climates, and its leaves can reach up to 5 inches long. The base of a mature Live Oak trunk can be 2-3 feet wide, but it has small branches that are spaced far apart from each other.
- This oak is native to the Southeastern United States, but it can now be found as far north as California. It is one of the most massive and massive trees in the United States, and is the state tree of South Carolina and Texas.
Scarlet Oak
The Scarlet Oak is a beautiful tree that lives in the Eastern United States. It has leaves that are glossy green with a hint of red and grow to be 4 to 6 inches long. When fall comes around, the leaves take on a deep red tinge—that’s where this particular species gets its name. The Scarlet Oak will reach 80 feet in height after 20 years of growth. And it has an impressive lifespan: many specimens live for several hundred years. This oak is resistant to disease, which means you can keep it healthy and appealing for longer than other species may last. Its wood is regularly used for furniture, flooring and paneling.
Pin Oak
Pin oak (Quercus palustris) is a medium to large deciduous tree with a rounded crown. This shade-tolerant species does not tolerate wet, poorly drained sites and grows best on deep well-drained soils. It matures at a height of 40 to 60 feet with an equal spread, making it ideal for use as a street tree in urban and suburban areas. Pin oak is moderately fast growing, but has short-lived weak wood that breaks easily. Its distinctive leaf shape has a tip that often points downward; the leaves are deeply lobed with five points, giving the tree its name. The dark green leaves turn brilliant scarlet in autumn before dropping from the tree. Cup-shaped acorns develop after two years on short stalks and provide food for wildlife.
The white oak is one of the major species of oaks native to North America.
The white oak is one of the major species of oaks native to North America. It is a slow-growing tree, but it can live for hundreds of years. This deciduous plant prefers to grow in well-drained soil and has a relatively wide range, growing in hardiness zones 3 through 9. The white oak is the state tree of Maryland and Connecticut.