Quercus rubra
Not to be confused with Q. robur, the common English oak, this handsome, stately tree is a native of eastern and central North America and can be found from Nova Scotia to Louisiana and as far west as Oklahoma. It is widely considered a national treasure in the USA and is the State tree of New Jersey.
Growing in the forests of North America, it can reach a height of more than 40 metres and may live 500 years. It is tolerant of salt and air pollution and relatively tolerant of soil compaction which makes it suitable for street and park planting, although in this situation it seldom grows as high but is valued for its rich autumn colour. Also, since the 19th century Q. rubra has been used in forest plantings in Europe, where it may take 20 years to produce flowers and another 20 before it produces a good crop of acorns. It has large leaves whose lobes terminate with bristle-pointed teeth, and on young trees the bark is silver-grey and smooth, but when mature red oak can be distinguished from other oaks by the shiny stripe down the centre of its bark ridges.
Q. rubra is one of the most important oaks in the USA for timber production, its reddish-brown wood is valued for flooring, veneer, interior trim and furniture. The wood has a tendency to absorb moisture making it unsuitable for boatbuilding and exterior trim, but it is nevertheless sometimes used for fence posts and railroad ties.
