Quercus falcata

• BOTANICAL NAME: Quercus falcata
• COMMON NAME: Southern Red-Oak
• FAMILY: Fagaceae
• NATIVITY: Illinois to Georgia, found amongst the piedmont region in the mid-south.
• GROWTH HABIT: 70-80’ (100’); Large tree with a crowned outline.
• HARDINESS:  USDA 7 to 9  
• OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS:  Thrives in dry soils and full sun.  Common in dry woods and in the southeast piedmont.
• SUCCESSIONAL STATUS: Climax
• FACULTATIVE STATUS:  Facultative Upland
• LANDSCAPE VALUE:  Great specimen for dry areas and wildlife value in the nuts.  
• FOLIAGE:   Simple, alternate, rounded base and pointed apices.  Leaves are usually five-lobed but could have 7-9 lobes.
• BUDS:  Imbricately scaled, acute, reddish brown, and pubescent towards the apex.
• BARK:  Gray and deeply furrowed in older trees.  Younger stems are somewhat smooth and nearly glabrous.
• FRUIT:  Acorns are sharply pointed and born both singly and in pairs.  ID is the striation on the nut of the acorn.
• PESTS:  None serious.