Quercus coccinea: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Native Americans and pioneers used the acorns for food. Roasted acorns have been ground and used as a coffee substitute. The wood is used in construction for floors, etc.
Plant Profile: Quercus coccinea
Taxonomy: Quercus coccineaNames
Black Oak, Oaks, Quercus velutina, Red Oak, Scarlet Oak, Spanish Oak
Phonetic Spelling:KWER-kus kok-SIN-ee-uh
Genus:Quercus
Species:coccinea
Family:Fagaceae
The Scarlet Oak is a native deciduous tree belonging to the beech family, typically reaching heights of 50 to 80 feet and spreading 45 to 60 feet wide. Known for its longevity, resilience, and ease of cultivation, this tree thrives in the dry upland forests of North Carolina's Piedmont and the middle to lower mountain regions. It favors acidic, sandy soils that are on the drier side but can adapt to other well-drained soil types. Characteristically, the Scarlet Oak has a narrow form with an irregular, open crown and often features many small dead branches.
This tree is frequently valued for its stunning autumn foliage and its ability to withstand drought conditions. It serves as a vital food source for various wildlife species. Remarkably, it grows relatively quickly for an oak and begins producing acorns within 20 years. However, its thin bark makes it less resistant to fire. The Scarlet Oak is suitable for use as a shade tree or along streets, and like all oaks, it is considered a valuable plant for wildlife.
In terms of pests and diseases, the Scarlet Oak can face challenges such as leaf spots, anthracnose, cankers, mildew, rust, rots, galls, and various insect infestations. It is particularly vulnerable to oak wilt but shows greater resistance to chlorosis in alkaline soils compared to its close relative, the Pin Oak (Quercus palustris).
Quercus coccinea Feature Summary
Quercus coccinea Image Gallery
Tags
#deciduous
#fall color
#shade tree
#poisonous
#full sun tolerant
#heat tolerant
#drought tolerant
#edible plant
#wildlife plant
#partial sun
#native tree
#moths
#tree
#fall interest
#street tree
#small mammals
#food source
#low flammability
#NC native
#black bears
#wild turkeys
#deer resistant
#blue jays
#nighttime garden
#small and large mammals
#fire resistant
#edible fruits
#Braham Arboretum
#fantz
#larval host plant
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#bird friendly
#dry soils tolerant
#food source hard mast fruit
#fall color red
#butterfly friendly
#butterfly larvae
#moth larvae
#partial shade tolerant
#larval host tree
#pollinator garden
#problem for horses
#audubon
#banded hairstreak butterfly
#gray hairstreak butterfly
#imperial moth
#juvenal’s duskywing butterfly
#edward’s hairstreak butterfly
#white-m hairstreak butterfly
#horace’s duskywing butterfly
Similar Plants
Quercus coccinea is often confused with:
Quercus coccinea Feature Summary
Attributes
Native Americans and pioneers used the acorns for food. Roasted acorns have been ground and used as a coffee substitute. The wood is used in construction for floors, etc.
Northern Central & Eastern U.S.A
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV.
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, blue jays, small mammals, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and black bear.
Acorns can be eaten once to tannins have been leached or boiled out.
Woody
Wildlife Food Source
Shade
Wildlife Nesting
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Larval Host
high flammability
Fruit
1/2 to 1-inch long acorn occurs singly or in pairs and is half covered by a deep bowl-like cap. The exposed acorn often has concentric, circular rings. Bitter in taste and require 2 seasons to mature. It starts producing at age 20.
Nut
Brown/Copper
< 1 inch
Flowers
Separate male and female flowers in non-showy catkins.
Green
Insignificant
Catkin
Spring
Leaves
The leaves are 4-7 inches long and 3-5 inches wide and are a lustrous dark green above and paler below. The deeply cut lobes are bristle-tipped with c-shaped deep sinuses and 7 pointed lobes. The fall color is scarlet, showy and occurs late.
Deciduous
Green
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Alternate
Elliptical
Ovate
Lobed
3-6 inches
Glossy
3-6 inches
Bark
On young trees, the bark is gray-brown, with smooth streaks. Later becomes darker and develops irregular broad ridges and narrow furrows especially near the base. Often spotted with gray. The inner bark is reddish to orangish.
Dark Gray
Dark Brown
Ridges
Stem
Stems are red-brown with multiple terminal reddish-brown buds.
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Smooth (glabrous)
Cluster of terminal buds
Poisonous to Humans
Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.
Seeds
Leaves
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Native Plant
Poisonous
Deciduous
Rounded
Pyramidal
Open
Ascending
Rapid
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
24-60 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Nighttime Garden
Native Garden
Shade Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Drought
Deer
Heat
Dry Soil
Black Walnut
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Moths
Small Mammals
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Horses
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Quercus coccinea Image Gallery
Quercus coccinea Attributes
Quercus coccinea: Country Or Region Of Origin
Northern Central & Eastern U.S.A
Quercus coccinea: Distribution
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV.
Quercus coccinea: Wildlife Value
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, blue jays, small mammals, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and black bear.
Quercus coccinea: Edibility
Acorns can be eaten once to tannins have been leached or boiled out.
Quercus coccinea: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Quercus coccinea: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Quercus coccinea: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Quercus coccinea: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Quercus coccinea Fruit
Quercus coccinea: Fruit Description
1/2 to 1-inch long acorn occurs singly or in pairs and is half covered by a deep bowl-like cap. The exposed acorn often has concentric, circular rings. Bitter in taste and require 2 seasons to mature. It starts producing at age 20.
Quercus coccinea: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Quercus coccinea: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Quercus coccinea: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Quercus coccinea: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Quercus coccinea Flowers
Quercus coccinea: Flower Description
Separate male and female flowers in non-showy catkins.
Quercus coccinea: Flower Color
Green
Quercus coccinea: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Quercus coccinea: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Quercus coccinea Leaves
Quercus coccinea: Leaf Description
The leaves are 4-7 inches long and 3-5 inches wide and are a lustrous dark green above and paler below. The deeply cut lobes are bristle-tipped with c-shaped deep sinuses and 7 pointed lobes. The fall color is scarlet, showy and occurs late.
Quercus coccinea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Quercus coccinea: Leaf Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Quercus coccinea: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Red/Burgundy
Quercus coccinea: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Quercus coccinea: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Quercus coccinea: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Quercus coccinea: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Quercus coccinea: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Quercus coccinea: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Quercus coccinea: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Quercus coccinea: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Quercus coccinea: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Quercus coccinea Bark
Quercus coccinea: Bark Description
On young trees, the bark is gray-brown, with smooth streaks. Later becomes darker and develops irregular broad ridges and narrow furrows especially near the base. Often spotted with gray. The inner bark is reddish to orangish.
Quercus coccinea: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Dark Gray
Quercus coccinea: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Quercus coccinea Stem
Quercus coccinea: Stem Description
Stems are red-brown with multiple terminal reddish-brown buds.
Quercus coccinea: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Quercus coccinea: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Quercus coccinea: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Quercus coccinea: Stem Bud Terminal
Cluster of terminal buds
Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
Only 1 terminal bud, smaller than side buds
Quercus coccinea Poisonous to Humans
Quercus coccinea: Poison Symptoms
Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
Quercus coccinea: Poison Toxic Principle
Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.
Quercus coccinea: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Quercus coccinea: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Quercus coccinea: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Quercus coccinea Whole Plant Traits
Quercus coccinea: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Quercus coccinea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Quercus coccinea: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Quercus coccinea: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Quercus coccinea: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Quercus coccinea: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Quercus coccinea Cultural Conditions
Quercus coccinea: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Quercus coccinea: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Quercus coccinea: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Quercus coccinea: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Quercus coccinea: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Quercus coccinea: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Quercus coccinea: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Quercus coccinea Landscape
Quercus coccinea: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Quercus coccinea: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Quercus coccinea: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Quercus coccinea: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Quercus coccinea: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Quercus coccinea: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
