Cold hardiness

Heat tolerance

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 40 ecoregions — 35 climate-resilient through 2070 · 5 suited today. Best matches first.

What it needs

Lifecycle

Pollination

Monoecious — both drooping yellowish-green male catkins and smaller female flowers occur on the same tree. Wind-pollinated; no insect pollinators required for fertilization. Northern red oak hybridizes freely with other red-oak-group species (Q. velutina, Q. coccinea, Q. ellipsoidalis).

Plants don't grow alone

For people

NC State Extension tags Northern red oak as poisonous. Leaves and acorns contain gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin; ingestion (primarily by livestock and horses, occasionally pets) can cause stomach pain, constipation, and bloody diarrhea. Severity is low for incidental contact but acorns should not be left where livestock or pets can consume them in quantity. Acorns are technically human-edible after extensive tannin leaching (more than white oak requires), but they are not the practical food acorn — white oak (Q. alba) is preferred.

Native range

Climate notes

In the designer

Seasonal interest

University extension service

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