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Fagaceae
Quercus rubra
Specimen Size: 135.9ft tall, 32.5in in diameter.
Location: Clustered around the south end of the Greig garden, north of Allen Library, towering up.
Historical Background: Northern Red oak is also known as Spanish oak, not because it is native to Spain, but due to its large plantings in parts of the country once occupied by Spain. The wood of this important American lumber source is coarse grained, hard, strong and heavy, but not highly durable. It is used for flooring, furniture, veneers and various aspects of construction. The grain of Red oak wood is so open that smoke can be blown through the grain of the wood if cut parallel to the trunk. The acorns are an important source of food for several Native American tribes and to many species of wildlife. The bark also provided many important medicinal properties to those tribes.
Non-Native
Native Range: Eastern North America
Identifying Features: Leaves are somewhat similar to those of the Pin oak, but these trees are objectively far grander, with an immense tall and spreading crown. Leaves have smaller and very variable lobes. The trunks are straight, and foliage a vibrant green, turning vivid red in autumn. Acorns also ready in autumn are quickly snatched up by the UW squirrels, and are roundish on small stalks with shallow cups. The silvery grey bark becomes furrowed with age.
Identifying Features In Depth:
Form: An immense member of this species, exhibiting large heavy branches producing a domed crown reaching heights of 115’ (35m) or even more. The height and breadth of these specimens is easy to see.
Leaves: Leaves are a a shiny green, slightly rough on each side, up to nearly 8” (20cm). They are broad and lobed variably, with veins often hairy on the bottom side. They turn an impressive shade of red in fall and grow on a short (1” or 2.5cm) leaf stalk. Lobes are sharp but not generally as deep as the pin oak.
Bark: Smooth and silvery grey, becoming fissured with age.
Reproductive Bodies: Acorns are about 1” (2.5cm) on a 1cm stalk, with a shallow cup and barrel shaped fruit pointed abruptly at the tip.
Native range of Quercus rubra in eastern North America, compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Below is the description found for this species on the original Brockman Memorial Tree Tour:
Historic Tree Tour Information: Red oaks contribute to the substantial grove between Smith Hall and Suzzallo Library. Originally this area was part of the University's first International Grove, planted in 1932. Now some of the oaks are 100 feet (30 meters) tall. Among oaks this eastern North American species is distinguished by its large, shallowly but sharply lobed leaves, and huge, comparatively smooth-barked trunk. Red oaks are easily identified by the ridges in their bark that appear to have shiny stripes down the center. A few other oaks have this feature high up on their trunks, but Red oak is the only species that has the stripes all the way down the trunk. Its acorns, the size of large cherries, are produced abundantly. The foliage turns gold or red in autumn.
The wood of this important American lumber source is coarse grained, hard, strong and heavy, but not highly durable. It is used for flooring, furniture, veneers and various aspects of construction. The grain of Red oak wood is so open that smoke can be blown through the grain of the wood if cut parallel to the trunk. As with all oak species, the acorns are an important source of food to many species of wildlife and for several Native American tribes at one time. The bark of this species also provided many important medicinal properties to the tribes.
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