Object Details
- Description
- Scarlet oak is one of the fastest growing oaks, but also has one of the shortest lifespans. It is the mayfly of oaks. It is planted widely in the US and Europe as a shade tree, and for its beautiful scarlet color in the fall.
- This oak is listed as Endangered in Maine.
- Hardiness
- -30 - 30 F
- Bloom Time
- April to May
- Provenance
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Accession Number
- 2017-0388A
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Life Form
- Deciduous tree
- Average Height
- 50-75'
- Bark Characteristics
- Dark gray with furrows and ridges.
- Bloom Characteristics
- Male flowers grow in drooping catkins. Female flowers are solitary or clustered.
- Fall Color
- Red; developes very late
- Foliage Characteristics
- Simple, alternate, 7 lobed leaves with C-shaped sinuses between lobes. 3-6" long.
- Fruit Characteristics
- Acorns grow singularly or in pairs with half the acorn covered by its cap. .5-1" long.
- Structure
- Young: pyramidal Mature: rounded
- Range
- NC and E USA
- Habitat
- dry upland forest, ridges and slopes in hilly to mountainous terrain
- See more items in
- Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection
- On Display
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Common Name
- Scarlet Oak
- Group
- [vascular plants]
- Class
- Equisetopsida
- Subclass
- Magnoliidae
- Superorder
- Rosanae
- Order
- Fagales
- Family
- Fagaceae
- Genus
- Quercus
- Species
- coccinea
- Smithsonian Gardens
- Topic
- Trees
- Living Collections
- Record ID
- ofeo-sg_2017-0388A
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax70cd67709-4057-431e-913b-9054a19f1bf1
