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Red Oak vs. Northern Red Oak

davidfromdetroit

8 years ago

What is the difference between red oak and northern red oak? Are they two names of the same tree, or does the NRO have distinct characteristics and, if so, what are they?

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edlincoln

8 years ago

I heard that Northern Red Oak has better Fall color. Not certain, but I think it is a situation where the trees from different regions are slightly different...which is often the case in common species with a broad geographic distribution.

I know red oak also refers to a broader category of oaks of which Northern Red Oak is one example...eg "The Red Oaks" vs the white oaks or black oaks...

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Comments (9)

hairmetal4ever
8 years ago
In much of the Midwest and Northeast, the term 'red oak' often means Northern Red Oak, latin name Quercus rubra. Here in Maryland, where both the Northern Red Oak and Southern Red Oak grow, people tend to specify.

Then you have the entire red oak GROUP, which includes all the 'red' species like Scarlet, Pin, Shumard...

Hence the need for latin names.

Uusally, if someone says 'red oak', as in "I have a red oak in my yard" and you're in a place Quercus rubra grows, then that's what they're talking about.
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hairmetal4ever
8 years ago
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viper114
8 years ago
they are the same but different ecotypes exist.....a tree from Georgia wont do well growing in Maine and vice versa
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Select Landscapes of Iowa
8 years ago
They are probably referring to the same thing. If you are in the Midwest most people will say Red Oak but if you look at a Quercus rubra tag in the nursery the common name will be listed as Northern Red Oak. In my experience Red Oak (or NRO) is quite variable in fall color but usually gives a decent display. I prefer many of the white oak hybrids like Prairie Stature, Forest Knight, etc... as they are more resistant to oak wilt and still give a nice color display in the fall.

Growth rate of the red oak group as a whole is typically quicker than that of the white oak group. If your soil is acidic enough also think about trying Quercus ellipsoidalis or Quercus coccinea, both of which tend to have excellent fall color.
davidfromdetroit
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks gang, very helpful.
alabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama
8 years ago
In my neck of the woods, when someone says "red oak" they usually mean Southern Red Oak (Q.falcata), or Shumard Oak (Q.shumardii). Northern Red Oak (Q.rubra) isn't so common down here.
hairmetal4ever
8 years ago
We have both rubra and falcata here in large numbers. You occasionally will see a Shumard, but they're rare both in the wild and in landscapes.

Rubra is more common where I live, falcata at work, only 10 miles apart.
poaky1
8 years ago
Sometimes you can get Q. Velutina mixed up with NRO,( or I have) until you feel the "velous" hairs on the back of the leaves, and mature bark shows some orangeish spots in the bark. No good fall color usually on Velutina (black oak) but I have seen one turn yellow leaves.

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