20 Native Oak Trees for Your Landscape

Want an oak tree for your property but are unsure which one to choose? This article profiles twenty oak trees, all native trees, which you can plant in your landscape. Each profile will tell the planting instructions, general overview of the tree, and little trivia bits on some of them for fun.

Quercus alba L. (White Oak)

This deciduous moderate growth tree prefers sun and moist well drained soil. It will reach a mature height of 60-100 feet tall and a spread of 50-90 feet wide. It has messy yellow green catkins for flowers in May and one inch acorns for fruits. It will have wonderful purplish red foliage and be long lasting in color. This tree is difficult to transplant but makes a nice shade tree. White Oak is a drought tolerant tree.

Quercus coccinea Muenchh. (Scarlet Oak)

This rapid growth oak will reach a height of 50-80 feet tall and have a spread 40-50 feet. Its flowers are on catkins or spikes depending on sex. Fruits are one inch acorns that are wildlife favorites. This oak, like its name, has brilliant scarlet fall color. It has 3-6 inch leaves that are dark green on upright spreading branches. It is a good shade or lawn tree.

Quercus falcata Michx. (Southern Red Oak)

This deciduous moderate growth oak prefers a bright sunny spot in the yard. It will get up to 70-90 feet tall and is drought tolerant. Its flowers are on catkins or spikes depending on sex. It has 5-9 inch simple leaves that are shiny green with tan underneath the leaf. This oak has good heavy wood and is a good shade tree. The Native Americans used this for fever, asthma, and as an antiseptic and tonic.

Quercus georgiana M. A. Curtis (Georgia Oak)

This deciduous oak loves sunny spots. It reaches heights of 15-30 feet and has 1-5 inch leaves. Expect red to purple fall color and ½ inch acorns for fruits. This is a drought resistant tree.

Quercus incana Bartr. (Bluejack Oak)

The Blue Jack Oak gets up to 40 feet tall at maturity and has shiny deciduous leaves. It prefers full sun and wet soil and will have acorn fruits that are loved by wildlife. This oak has near black bark and is rough in texture.

Quercus laevis Walt. (Turkey Oak)