Northern red oak

Scientific name: Quercus rubra

Estimated tree age: 200 years old

Commonly used in furniture and flooring, red oaks are some of the modern lumber industry’s most important trees. Able to grow 60 feet tall in urban settings, the tree is known for having large acorns that, due to their early growth, can serve as dependable sources of food for wildlife into the winter. Red oaks are known for their impressively colored autumn foliage, usually offering a full palette of red hues, though some leaves will remain yellow and orange. The tree typically drops its leaves when the length of the day sinks under 11 hours. Wood of the red oak that is deemed unsuitable for lumber and veneer is generally used as firewood.

Photo from Grandview Heights TreePlotter.

In forests, red oaks can grow over 100 feet tall with diameters of up to 39 inches.

Photo from ODNR's Species Search.

Acorns from the red oak providde food for a variety of wildlife, though they are notably less tasty than the white oak's acorns.

Photo from OPLIN's What Tree is It?