Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Small mammals
Acorns feed deer, turkeys, squirrels, migrant birds and small mammals, and the tree supports a large number of native insects.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native tree
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 3–8
- Grows 60–75 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
No reviews yet. Be the first to reviewThe quick answer
Northern red oak is a large native shade tree for USDA zones 3-8 that grows 60-75 ft tall and 50-75 ft wide in full sun to part shade. Buy it for long-lived shade, red fall color and acorns that feed wildlife. Prune only when dormant to avoid spreading oak wilt.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Northern Red Oak plant profile
Mature size60–75 ft tall · 50–75 ft wide
Typical (60 ft)Up to 75 ft
Straight trunk with a broad, rounded crown.
USDA hardiness zones3–8
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Grows in full sun to partial shade.
SoilpH 4.5–6.5
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers acidic, moist, well-drained sandy loam and tolerates clay and dry sites; high pH causes yellow leaves.
Native to the USRusset-red to bright red fall color
Flowers & fruit
Yellow-green catkins appear in spring; acorns take two seasons to mature and begin on trees about 20-25 years old.
Leaves & fall color
Russet-red to bright red in fall. Lobed leaves with bristle-tipped points turn russet-red to bright red in fall.
Pests & disease
Oak wilt is the most serious threat; galls and mites are common but harmless, and chlorosis occurs in alkaline soil.
Pruning
Prune only in the dormant season to avoid attracting beetles that spread oak wilt.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Northern Red Oak
SPRINGLeaves and yellow-green catkins emerge together
SUMMERBroad, dense shade canopy of pointed-lobed leaves
LATE SUMMERAcorns develop over two seasons on older trees
FALLLeaves turn russet to bright red; acorns drop on mature trees
Questions people ask about Northern Red Oak
When should I prune a red oak?
Only in the dormant season. Pruning in the growing season attracts beetles that can spread oak wilt, which kills red oaks quickly.
How fast does a northern red oak grow?
It is one of the faster-growing oaks, at a moderate to fast rate in full sun and acidic soil.
Why are my red oak leaves yellow with green veins?
That is chlorosis, common when the soil pH is too high; red oak prefers acidic soil.
How old does a red oak have to be to produce acorns?
Usually about 20-25 years, with heavy crops after 40-50 years.
How big does a red oak get?
Typically 60-75 ft tall and about as wide, so give it plenty of room.
What arrives when I order a red oak?
A dormant bare-root seedling, 2-3 ft tall, with no leaves and a long taproot. Plant it promptly without bending the taproot.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
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Plant facts checked October 2026 against: Morton Arboretum, NC State Extension.