Common Names: Texas Oak, Texas Red Oak, Nuttall Oak
Texas Red Oak is a lovely deciduous oak that can grow between 50 to 80 feet tall, with a broad, rounded crown that offers plenty of shade. In the spring, just after the leaves begin to unfurl, you’ll notice its small yellowish-green flowers blooming on separate male and female catkins. The tree produces oval acorns that reach up to 1¼ inches long, nestled in scaly cups. The dark green leaves are 4 to 8 inches long, elegantly divided into 6 to 11 pointed lobes, with distinguishable tufts of soft hair on the lower surface at the vein angles. Their leaf shape is reminiscent of the closely related pin and shumard oaks. While the fall color tends to arrive a bit late, it often showcases stunning shades of red that brighten up the landscape. Interestingly, Quercus texana, as we currently recognize it, has been synonymous with several other names, including Q. nuttallii, Q. nuttallii var. cachensis, Q. rubra var. texana, Q. shumardii var. microcarpa, and Q. shumardii var. texana, which can sometimes make things a little tricky with its nomenclature and common names.
This oak prefers rich, moist, acidic loams in full sunlight for the best growth. It’s pretty adaptable, thriving in a variety of soil conditions, even heavy clay soils.
