The sharply and heavily lobed dark-green foliage of Quercus rubra turns wonderful shades of red with hints of yellow and bronze in the autumn. It is commonly known as the Red Oak tree due to this autumn display. Spring catkins are a source of nectar for bees and once pollinated, become the easily recognised acorns which are popular with wildlife, such as squirrels.
Quercus rubra is a grand looking Oak tree with a deeply rounded crown, which makes the perfect nesting site for birds. The Red Oak tree is fast growing and spreading, reaching a height and spread of 10 x 8 metres in 20 years. Any well drained, lime-free soil in full sun or partial shade with suit this tough Quercus variety and exposure isn’t a problem.
AKA Red oak, Champion oak, Northern red oak
Common name: Red Oak tree
Height and spread in 20 years: 10 x 8 metres
Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Environmental benefits: High carbon storage
Season of interest: Spring, Summer, Autumn
Foliage: Dark-green leaves turn red, bronze and yellow in autumn
Soil: Suited to a free-draining, moist site and tolerant of most soil types
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Planting Advice for Quercus Rubra trees
Our pot grown Red Oak trees can be planted at any time of the year. Prepare the planting site by removing all weeds and grass within a metre of your desired planting hole. Dig a square hole as deep as your root mass and approximately 2x as wide. To help your tree establish more effectively, we advise applying root grow (sprinkle in the hole for pot grown trees), especially if you have poor soil
Gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole. Using 50% of the original soil and 50% compost, fill in the hole and firm around gently. Make sure not to bank the soil up around the collar of the tree. We recommend using a tree staking kit and if your area is prone to rabbits, a rabbit guard. For further information visit the advice section.
Aftercare Advice for Red Oak trees
If you’re planting in spring, summer or dry weather, water well and regularly for the first few months. We stock a range of irrigation kits to help. Make sure to keep an eye on young Oak trees and increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. If you’re planting in autumn, you may only need to water your tree a little.
Once planted, keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons.
Pruning Advice for Quercus Rubra trees
Champion Oak trees develop a well-balanced canopy with little help from us. Established oak trees only require tidying up, by removing any crossing or damaged branches.
You can encourage young oak trees to form a clear trunk by pruning the lower branches. This will help to raise the canopy and improve the overall look of the tree.
Delivery Costs
*Free delivery promotion excludes mature trees, extra large kits and delivery to Highlands or Islands. Discount applies at checkout.
Small/medium trees & shrubs
Select semi-mature trees & shrubs
All other mature trees
Mainland UK ex. Scottish Highlands
£8 for any quantity
£35 for 1-4 trees
From £55 for any quantity
Scottish Highlands & the Islands
From £30
Outside Mainland UK
Currently we are unable to deliver outside of Mainland UK
Delivery Times
Next Day Despatch We will always try to get your plants to you as quickly as possible. For many of our trees and plants, if you order today we will despatch your order within 24 hours. We are constantly adding to our range of next day plants, and we do not add a surcharge for this service. Click here to see our next day delivery plants.
Standard Delivery We have one of the widest range of trees in the UK, and for those plants which we cannot despatch next day we will normally despatch within 4 weeks. The despatch time for different products will be confirmed when products are added to your shopping basket
Pre-orders We will only want to deliver your orders when they are perfect for planting! Depending on the season and how well the plants are growing, we will give our best estimates of the despatch dates for pre-orders. These dates may vary and by species and while we will always try to deliver within these timeframes if the expected despatch does change then we will notify you by email.
Special Orders Orders containing pleached or mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) are delivered within 3 weeks. They require specialist delivery and are grouped geographically. Any customers ordering pleached or mature trees will be contacted and notified of their delivery date.
If your trees are required by a specific date, please let us know as soon as possible; while we can’t offer any guarantees we will always do our best to accommodate you. You can leave instructions in the notes field on the Delivery Page of the Checkout or send us an email at [email protected].
Please note that orders are shipped once all the trees in the order are ready.
Collections Collections are by appointment only at our West Yorkshire-based nursery. If you would like to place an order for collection, please get in touch before placing your order. You will not be charged a delivery cost for a collection and any delivery cost that has been applied will be refunded.
The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. *Pot sizes may vary. Below are definitions of terms:
Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.
Single Stem tree: Classic tree with one trunk, pruned for a beautiful, natural shape.
Top grafted tree: A height next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Ideal for small spaces.
Feathered tree: Branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.
Multi Stem tree: Two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.
Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.
Clump: Several plants in one pot that give the appearance of a bushy multi stem tree.
Climber: Naturally climbing plant. Usually delivered running up a cane, ready to position in the garden.
Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height.
