SCIENTIFIC NAME: Quercus falcata

COMMON NAME: southern red oak

LEAVES: Lower leaves have 3 lobes while the upper leaves have 5 to 7 lobes. The leaves hang down and the lower leaves have a long terminal lobe. Yellowish pubescence underneath. Lower leaves are usually shaped like a bell. Not much fall color.

FRUIT: Small acorn less than one half inch in diameter. Bitter.

BARK: Black and ridge and furrowed.

OTHER: Native to dry sites. Grows up to 70' tall and wide. Likes acid soils (pH 4.0 to 5.0). Tap rooted, so hard to transplant. Not in the trade, but a good tree to leave on a site. When mature, a beautiful graceful tree. Is now being grown and sold in the nursery trade. Probably will be better to plant smaller trees because of tap root. East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, AL planted some southern red oaks in the median strip of their parking lot. Very graceful oak and old specimen can be spectacular. These are generally long lived trees.