Description
Red Oak Tree (Quercus rubra)
The Red Oak is one of the finest trees you can plant for autumn colour. Its large, glossy leaves turn from deep green to brilliant red and russet each autumn, which makes it a stunning focal point for gardens, parks, avenues and larger landscaping projects. Originally from North America, it has been grown in these islands for generations and is fully hardy in Irish conditions.
Key Features
- Botanical name: Quercus rubra
- Foliage: Deciduous broadleaf with large, deeply lobed leaves. The lobes have pointed, bristle-tipped ends, unlike the rounded lobes of our native oaks.
- Autumn colour: Leaves turn bright red to deep russet-brown before falling in late autumn.
- Growth rate: One of the fastest-growing oaks, typically 30–60cm (1–2ft) a year and more in ideal conditions. The first 10–15 years are its fastest growing period.
- Mature size: Typically 20–25m (65–80ft) tall with a broad, rounded crown, so give it plenty of space.
- Acorns: Mature trees produce acorns, which take two years to ripen on the tree.
- Position: Full sun or partial shade.
- Soil: Well-drained, neutral to acidic soil. It does not do well on chalky or very limey ground.
- Hardiness: Very hardy and copes well with cold, exposed sites.
- Uses: A specimen or focal tree, avenue and parkland planting, or within a mixed hedge to add height and impact.
Here at Cullen Nurseries, we planted three Red Oaks in our own garden to mark the birth of each of our sons. Read our story.
Red Oak & Wildlife
Red Oaks bring real value to wildlife. Their acorns feed jays, wood pigeons, squirrels and mice, and the broad canopy gives birds shelter and nesting sites. Oaks have long been a symbol of strength, wisdom and endurance, and a Red Oak will be enjoyed for generations.
If your main goal is supporting the widest possible range of native wildlife, we’d recommend our native Sessile Oak or Pedunculate Oak. Native oaks support more insect, bird and fungi species than almost any other tree in Ireland. Not sure which suits your site? Just ask us.
How & When to Plant Your Red Oak Tree
We grow our Red Oak trees here in our own nursery in County Carlow. They are best planted in the bare root season, typically from November to late March.
- Prepare the ground: Break up the soil well and clear grass and weeds from a circle of about 1m around the planting spot.
- Keep the roots moist: Don’t let bare roots dry out before planting. Keep them covered or in a bucket of water until they go in the ground.
- Dig the hole: Make it wide enough to spread the roots out naturally without bending or damaging them.
- Plant at the right depth: Set the tree so the root collar (where the roots meet the stem) sits level with the soil surface. Planting too deep is one of the most common causes of failure.
- Backfill and firm in: Shovel the loosened soil back around the roots and firm it with your heel. You want the soil firm enough to remove air pockets but loose enough for water to reach the roots.
- Water well straight after planting.
Watch our video: How to Plant Bare Root Trees
Aftercare
- Staking: Stake your tree and secure it with a Super Soft Tree Tie to protect it from wind rock while it establishes.
- Watering: Water regularly during dry spells, especially in the first two summers.
- Weeding: Keep a weed-free circle around the base for the first few years. A layer of mulch helps hold moisture in.
- Check ties: Loosen tree ties each year as the trunk thickens.


