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Scarlet Oak

Quercus coccinea

  • Fast Growing Oak
  • Great Scarlet Red Fall Color
  • Tolerates a Wide Range of Soils
  • Grows 60' to 80' with 40' to 50' Spread
  • Zones 4 to 9
  • Can't Ship To: AK, AZ, CA, FL, HI, LA, OR
Guaranteed Healthy Delivery
Item # 3440 | Shipping Height: 2' - 3'
*Mem. Price:$5.98
Reg. Price:$9.00
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Zones 4 - 9
Zones 4 - 9

Hardiness Zones: Zones 4 - 9
The Scarlet Oak can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map.VIEW MAP

ornamental tree
ornamental tree

Type of tree:
The Scarlet Oak falls into the following type(s): Ornamental Trees, Shade Trees

60' - 80' High
60' - 80' High

Mature Height:
The Scarlet Oak grows to be 60' - 80' feet in height.

40' - 50' Spread
40' - 50' Spread

Mature Spread:
The Scarlet Oak has a spread of about 40' - 50' at full maturity.

Medium Growth
Medium Growth

Growth Rate:
This tree grows at a medium growth rate. [More about this.]

Full Sun
Full Sun

Sun:
This oak does well in full sun.

Various Soils
Various Soils

Soil:
Tolerates a wide range of soils except alkaline.

Rounded Shape
Rounded Shape

Shape:
This oak has rounded shape.

More Info
More Info

Attributes:
The Scarlet Oak tree is well named. Its early spring foliage is often red, its inner bark is reddish, and in autumn the leaves are brilliant red or scarlet. The acorns of this tree are a favorite food for gray squirrels, chipmunks, mice and birds, especially blue jays. It is a common tree in the Appalachian Mountains but has become a popular landscape tree throughout the eastern and central United States.

Wildlife Value:
Scarlet oak acorns are an important food source for many large songbirds, wild turkeys, grouse, squirrels, and whitetail deer.

History/Lore/Use:
The native range of the Scarlet Oak tree extends from Maine to Florida and west to Missouri. The first scientific observations of this tree were made in 1691. The brilliant red leaf color extends well into winter, making an excellent splash of color against a white snow background.

Moisture:
Normal moisture preferred, but with some drought tolerance.

Leaves:
This trees leaves are 4 to 7 inches long with 7 to 9 (rarely) narrow, bristle-tipped lobes separated by deep sinuses. Green in summer with brilliant red or scarlet color in autumn.

Flower Color:
Brown, faded flower color. Not noteworthy.

Bloom Time:
April-May.

Fruit Description:
The fruit is round, 1 inch long, attractive to wildlife.

Fast-growing and tolerates a wide range of soils. Leaves are glossy deep green on top, paler green below, and scarlet in fall. Crown is open and rounded, providing light shade. Grows to 60' to 80', 40'-50' spread. (zones 4-9)

Arborday.org Hardiness Zone Map
Spring Shipping Fall Shipping
Color Zone Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline 		Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline
  2 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  3 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  4 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  5 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  6 03/19–05/12 05/07 11/01–12/03 11/19
  7 03/11–05/07 04/30 11/05–12/10 11/26
  8 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  9 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  10 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AZ, CA, FL, HI, LA, OR , territories, or countries outside the U.S. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it at one half the original price, plus shipping and handling.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

  Standard Dwarf
  Mature
Height		 Space
Needed		 Mature
Height		 Space
Needed
Apple 20' - 25' 35' x 35'

10' **

 10' x 10' ++
Peach 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
Sweet Cherry 30' 20' x 25' 12' - 15' 10' x 10'
Sour Cherry 20' 20' x 20' 8' 10' x 10'
Pear 20' 20' x 20' 12' - 15' 12' x 12'
Apricot 20' 20' x 20'    
Plum 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
      ** semi-dwarf 12' - 15'
++ semi-dwarf 12' x 12'

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

  • They are very affordable.
  • Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.
  • They are easy to plant at the correct depth.

The Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University has an interesting article about the benefits of planting natural root trees. Look for the PDF entitled Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method

Potted (also called containerized) trees come in 4" containers.


If you have questions, please call (888) 448-7337 or E-mail Member Services.

Learn more about oak trees.