6 Stetson Street: Quercus rubra, Northern Red Oak

Quercus rubra

Oaks’ lineage with beech makes this tree another from the fossil record. Quercus dates back to the Cretaceous period, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

A member of the beech family, this deciduous oak reaches 75-100 feet in height. Its straight trunk is clear of branches for some distance above the ground and supports a wide canopy, commonly 3/4 that of its height. The dark bark is striped with long, smooth plates, separated by deep furrows. Leaf lobes are bristle-tipped. Fall color is can be crimson, golden-orange, or russet. Acorns are produced in the autumn, which provide food for wildlife. Northern red oak is a handsome shade and street tree, with good form, and dense foliage. It is one of the most rapidly growing oaks, is hardy in New England, and is tolerant of city conditions