Selecting Landscape Plants: Shade Trees

Red oak (Quercus borealis)

Large trees

• Maximum height
  70 feet
• Relative growth rate
  Good
• Freedom from insect pests
  Good
• Freedom from disease problems
  Good
• Resistance to storm damage
  Excellent
• Will grow on poorly drained soil
  Good
• Will grow in hot, dry areas
  Good
• Easy to transplant
  Poor
• Withstands city conditions
  Good

Red oak is one of the fastest growing of all the oaks. It develops into a large, broad, round-topped tree with a deep red fall color. It withstands city conditions, has a clean habit of growth and makes one of our best street and shade trees.

Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea)

Large trees

Scarlet oak is very similar to red oak. Few people can tell the two species apart. As far as the landscape is concerned, they can be considered as the same.