The genus Quercus and the Fagaceae beech family include hardwood trees known as oak trees. White oak trees and red oak trees are the two types of oak trees found in nature.
The bark, leaves, acorns, and general form of the oak tree can all be used to identify its type. In temperate countries in the Northern Hemisphere, oaks are one of the most frequent tree species in woods and parks.
Oaks are a prized tree in any landscape because of their graceful height and tough wood. This guide will teach you what to look for if you’re trying for the perfect oak tree for your garden landscape or want to identify oaks in the woods.
Oak Tree Facts
There are roughly 450 oaks species in North America, with 58 of them native. The majority of oaks are deciduous, which means that they lose their leaves in the autumn. You’ll also find a few evergreen varieties among the hundreds of oak species.
Oaks are huge trees, as well. The tallest oaks, some exceeding 100 feet (30 meters), may be found among them. The large spread of oak trees is due to their robust branches, which may reach up to 135 (41 m) long.
Acorns (also known as oak nuts) are the fruit of the oak trees. The cupule, or cup, of an acorn is smooth and leathery. Only after 20 to 30 years do many oak trees produce acorns, which they may do up to a thousand each year.
The acorn is the flesh of an oak tree. Because it contains a seed, acorn is technically a fruit. Because of its hard outer shell, acorn is also classified as a type of nut.
Oak Tree Varieties
White oaks (Quercus, subgenus leucobalanus) and red oaks (Quercus, subgenus Erythrobalanus) are the two types of oak trees that exist. Gray-colored bark and leaves with rounded lobes, but no bristles, distinguish white oaks. The bark of red oaks is darker, with pointed lobes and bristles on the leaves.
Red Oak Trees
Lobed leaves with pointed tips and little bristles at the lobed tips are common on red oak trees. They have a very bitter, unpalatable taste and take two years to mature their acorns. The leaves are 5 to 9 inches (12 to 22 cm) long, on average.
White Oak Trees
The lobed leaves of white oak trees are rounded and lack bristles, which is a common feature. They have a sweet or slightly bitter flavor and take one year to mature their acorns. White oaks have the same length of leaves as red oaks.
Oak Tree Bark
Young oak trees have smooth bark that has a silvery brown color. The bark of oak trees becomes fissured as they mature, resulting in deep grooves and ridges. The bark of different oak species changes from light gray (white oak) to extremely dark, almost black (red oak).
Oak Tree Leaves
White oak leaves vs. red oak leaves: white oak leaves usually have rounded tip (left) whereas the leaves of red oak leaves generally have pointed tips (right)
Oak trees are generally recognized by their unique lobed leaves. The tips of white oak leaves are usually rounded, while the tips of red oak leaves are usually pointed. Without bristles at the lobe tip, white oak leaves have rounded lobes and rounded tips.
Rounded serrations may also be seen along the leaf margins. The leaves of red oak trees are typically lobed and tipped with bristles. Species of red oak trees have a wider range of leaf shapes, with some having tooth-like margins and others having smooth margins.
Oak Tree Acorns
Acorns that are white oak develop quicker than those of red oak. White oak acorns take one year to develop, whereas red oak fruit takes about two years to develop.
White oak acorns are smaller and lighter than red oak acorns. The flavor of white oak acorns is sweet or slightly bitter. The bitter, unpalatable taste of acorns from red oak trees.
Oak Tree Identification
Deep fissures and ridges in the bark of oak trees are a good indication that they’re identifying oak trees. Oaks have a whitish-gray to dark, almost black bark color.
Oak trees with deeply lobed leaves with pointed or rounded tips are easily identified. Let’s take a closer look at white oaks and red oaks, two common oak tree types.
Types of Red Oak Trees (With Pictures)
Pin Oak Tree (Quercus palustris)
Pin oak trees reach a height of 72 feet (22 meters) and have leaves that grow to be medium size. Since to lower branches drooping down, the branch growth hides the trunk.
The loose, spreading growth of the pin oak’s upper canopy distinguishes it from other trees. Immature Pin oak trees have smooth red-gray bark that gets rougher and grayer as it ages, with the bark of mature Pin oak trees being rough.
Oak tree leaves: Glossy green leaves with deeply lobed margins and pointed tips distinguish pin oaks. The leaves are hairless and each lobe has bristled teeth.
Water Oak Tree (Quercus nigra)
Water oak trees are up to 100 feet (30 meters) tall and have leaves that don’t fall until mid-winter. The water oak’s distinctive spoon-shaped dull green leaves grow in clusters and are easy to distinguish.
Oak tree bark: As the oak grows, its bark becomes rough and scaly, and it turns black.
Oak tree leaves: The form of water oak leaves varies, from rounded like an oblong spoon to three-lobed with bristle tips.
Black Oak Tree (Quercus velutina)
With dense foliage that grows into a large flat-topped crown, black oak tree bark and leaves grow up to 100 feet (30 meters) tall. Glossy green, highly lobed leaves with U-shaped notches are used to identify black oaks. The inner bark of this species of red oak is orangey, while the exterior is dark gray.
Oak tree bark: The black oak is distinguished by its long shallow fissures and scaly grayish-black bark.
Oak tree leaves: The glossy, deep-green leaves with U-shaped notches and pointed lobes are used to identify black oak. Fine hairs on the underside of leaves are a good sign.
Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda)
Cherrybark oaks may reach heights of between 100 and 130 feet (30 and 40 meters) and have bark and leaves similar to those of a cherry. One of the fastest growing oaks is this kind. The bark of the oak species is similar to that of the black cherry tree, and it got its name from there.
Oak tree bark: The thin ridges of cherrybark oaks’ dark gray scaly bark distinguish it.
Oak tree leaves: The haphazard arrangement of the lobes on either side of the blade is a distinguishing characteristic of cherrybark oak leaves. The underside of the leaves is covered in fine hairs and are glossy, dark green.
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
Northern red oak trees may grow up to 92 feet (28 meters) tall and are sometimes even taller. The foliage of the red oak tree is lobed, but not as deeply as those of many other red oaks. One of the most popular oak trees in North America is this species of oak tree.
Oak tree bark: The brilliant streaks in the center of fissures ascending up the tree are a distinctive identifying characteristic of red oak bark. Dark brown to reddish-gray bark is used.
Oak tree leaves: The tip of the lobes on northern red oak leaves are serrated, and the leaves are dark green and smooth.
Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)
The scarlet oak tree is a 67 to 100-foot-tall (20 to 30m) medium-sized oak. The pin oak or black oak appear to be similar to the oak tree. The leaf shape, on the other hand, distinguishes between the two species. Lobed leaves with C-shaped notches, not U-shaped ones, are seen on scarlet oaks.
The leaves and bark of the scarlet oak tree
Oak tree bark: Irregular broad scaly ridges and small fissures characterize the scarlet oak bark.
Oak tree leaves: The deep lobes and C-shaped sinuses (notches between the lobes) of scarlet oak leaves are used to identify them.
Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)
The southern red oak thrives on sandy soil and full sun in the southern states, where it grows alongside its leaves. Between 82 and 100 feet (25 and 30 meters) tall, the deciduous tree. The acorns, which are orangey-brown and smaller than other oak trees, are a distinguishing feature of the southern red oak.
Southern red oak acorns
Oak tree bark: The bark of southern red oaks is ridged with scaly plates and is dark gray.
Southern red oak tree bark
Oak tree leaves: The southern red oak, with its slender lobes and large gaps between them, may be identified.
Japanese Evergreen Oak Tree (Quercus acuta)
The Japanese oak is the smallest oak tree and a kind of evergreen tree, which has distinctive identifying qualities. The tallest evergreen oak stands at 45 feet (14 meters). The Japanese oak is also distinguished from other oak species by its smooth, narrowly lanceolate or ovate leaves and smooth bark.
Oak tree bark: Unlike most other oaks, Japanese oaks have dark gray bark that is smooth.
Oak tree leaves: The Japanese evergreen oak tree is distinguished by glossy, ovate leaves with a finely rounded tip and long point.
Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia)
The laurel oak tree, which grows to be up to 70 feet (20 meters) tall, has leaves that are semi-evergreen. Its other names of water oak and swamp laurel oak come from its eastern origin, where it thrives in damp soil.
Oak tree bark: With shallow fissures and rough ridges, laurel oak bark is dark brown.
Oak tree leaves: Diamond-shaped glossy green leaves characterize laurel oak. Long, thin leaves with lobes are occasionally seen. Diamond-leaf oak is the name given to the oak.
Willow Oak Tree (Quercus phellos)
The willow oak tree, which grows between 65 and 100 feet (20 and 30 meters) tall, has bark and leaves similar to other red oaks. When mature, willow oaks have a thick oblong crown and may grow 2 feet (0.6 meters) each year.
Oak tree bark: The rough gray-brown bark of willow oak trees becomes thin fissures as it ages, making them easy to identify.
Oak tree leaves: The leaves of the willow oak are lanceolate, thin, and pointed, with a smooth surface. Willow oak leaves help differentiate it from other red oak species. Willow oak leaves lack lobes or teeth, unlike other oak trees.
Coast Live Oak or California Live Oak Tree (Quercus agrifolia)
When the tree is young, it has smooth dark gray bark, and as it grows older, it sports dark green spiny leaves and tiny, egg-shaped acorns. The coast live oak tree (Quercus agrifolia) is a medium-sized spreading evergreen with smooth dark gray bark.
The gnarled branching and broadly rounded crown of the California live oak makes it easily recognized in a landscape. Live oaks reach 30 to 80 feet (10 to 25 meters) in height.
The slender egg shape with a pointed apex distinguishes coast live oak acorns. The acorn fruit is covered with a warty cupule one-third of the way down, and the nuts are dark reddish-brown to black. The acorns are ready to harvest in seven months, unlike other live oak species.
Coast live oak tree leaves look like holly leaves, according to images. An oval shape with spiky margins, the glossy green evergreen leaves are an unusual sight. Early spring sees the oak tree lose its leaves, and new ones appear shortly after. The leaves are 2 to 7 inches (0.8 to 2.7 cm) long and 1.5 to 2 inches (4 to 5 cm) broad.
The coast live oak’s pendulous yellow-green or yellowish-red clusters of blooms are 2″ to 4″ (5 – 10 cm) long when in bloom.
Coast live oak trees are spectacular specimen trees for USDA zones 9 through 11, with blooms that appear throughout the year. Shearing the tree to create an evergreen hedge is another option.
Oak tree bark: As the tree ages, its live oak tree bark becomes deeply furrowed and smooth.
Oak tree leaves: The oval shape, leathery feel, and sharp spines around the margins of coast live oak tree leaves identify them.
Shumard Oak Tree (Quercus shumardii)
The Shumard oak tree, which belongs to the Quercus shumardii red oak family, boasts a well-known pyramidal crown and leaves. The dark green leaves have deeply-cut lobes on this fast-growing oak tree.
The rounded acorns have a flat base. The smooth, grayish Shumard oak bark develops a rough, dark gray appearance.
Shumard oak trees grow to be 50 to 70 feet (15–21 meters) tall and span 30 to 40 feet (9–12 meters). In USDA zones 5 through 9, the oak tree thrives in open environments. The tree thrives in full sun and moist soil with excellent drainage, as do all oaks.
The jaggy-looking, deeply lobed leaves of the Shumard oak tree are one of its most appealing characteristics. The leaves have five to nine pointed lobes with soft, bristle-like tips and measure 4″ to 8″ (10 cm) long. Shumard oak leaves turn an stunning red color in the autumn.
Acorns measuring up to 1.25″ (3 cm) long cover Shumard oak trees. The rounded tip and flattened base of brown acorns give them a stocky appearance, which distinguishes them from other species. The acorn’s cap is tiny and scaly, with a little portion of the acorn covered by it.
Oak tree bark: Immature trees have smooth Shumard oak tree bark, which becomes rough, furrowed, and dark gray with age.
Oak tree leaves: Shumard oak tree leaves feature rough tips on their lobes, which are deep and pointed. The top surface of the obovate leaves is dark green, while the underside is light green. In the autumn, the oak leaves turn a vivid scarlet color.
Turkey Oak Tree (Quercus laevis)
The small tree with deeply lobed green leaves, tiny reddish-brown acorns, and dark gray to black bark is known as the turkey oak (Quercus laevis).
These little oaks prefer poor soil, and they only grow to a height of 26 to 33 feet (8 – 10 meters). The oak tree develops a rounded, spreading crown as it grows and matures.
Oak tree bark: The dark gray color and irregular ridged patterning of Turkish oak tree bark distinguish it.
Oak tree leaves: The dark green leaves of the Turkish oak tree have three lobes that make them resemble a turkey foot. The leaves on the oak tree stay green until the winter, and its fall color is reddish-brown.
Types of White Oak Trees (With Pictures)
Eastern White Oak (Quercus alba)
The eastern white oak is a huge tree with a vast, spreading canopy that grows up to 100 feet (30 meters) tall. The white hardwood of the white oak is prized.
Oak tree bark: The eastern oak has thin, narrow fissures in its light grayish-white bark. Overlapping scales around halfway up the trunk should be used to identify the oak tree by its bark.
Eastern white oak tree (Quercus alba) bark
Oak tree leaves: Large obovate leaves with rounded tips and deep lobes.
English Oak (Quercus robur)
The English oak tree, which grows to a height of 40 to 70 feet (12 to 21 meters), is distinguished by its bark, leaves, and acorns. The large spreading crown and thick, solid trunk of the English oak, which may be up to 40 feet (12 meters) in diameter, distinguish it.
Oak tree bark: The thick trunk and branches of English oak are covered in blackish-gray bark with deep fissuring.
Oak tree leaves: The little, rounded lobed leaves with smooth leaf margins are easily distinguishable from English oak leaves. The typical form of these acorn-producing trees is English oak leaves.
Post Oak (Quercus stellata)
The post oak is a little white oak tree that belongs to the Quercus genus and has post oak bark, leaves, and a general appearance. Post oaks have a thick trunk and grow to be between 33 and 50 feet (10 and 15 meters). The short height and huge spreading crown of the post oak are key indicators of identification.
Oak tree bark: The post oak tree is distinguished by its thick fissured bark, which is a light gray color.
Oak tree leaves: The somewhat lobed leaves of the post oak, which form a cross shape, are said to resemble the Maltese cross in some way.
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Bur oak trees grow up to around 100 feet (30 meters) tall and may reach up to 160 feet (50 meters) in height. With trunks up to 10 feet (3 meters) in diameter, the bur oak is one of the thickest oaks around. North America is home to this slow-growing oak tree.
Oak tree bark: The medium-gray bark of the bur oak tree is deep and narrow, with vertical ridges.
Oak tree leaves: Bur oaks have broad rounded apices and unusually shaped big leaves with little lobes up to half the leaf’s length.
Sand post oak (Quercus margarettae)
The sand post oak is a tiny white oak that grows no higher than 40 feet (12 meters) tall and has leaves that are very small. In sandy soil in the southeastern United States, shrub-like oak trees grow well.
Oak tree bark: The bark of sand post oak trees is gray and has scaly ridges on it.
Oak tree leaves: The deeply lobed, rounded leaves with a rounded tip distinguish sand post oaks.
Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana)
Oregon white oak trees grow between 65 and 100 feet (20 and 30 meters) tall on the northwest coast of North America. In small garden landscapes, some Oregon oaks may reach heights of 10 to 16 feet (3 to 5 meters) as shrubs.
Oak tree bark: The Oregon white oak tree has furrowed, deeply ridged bark that is somewhat gray.
Oak tree leaves: The leaves of the Oregon white oak tree are rounded and glossy. The sinuses in the leaves are “U-shaped, with a somewhat rounded tip.
Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea)
The sessile oak, which grows to be 66 to 130 feet (20 to 40 meters) tall, has bark, leaves, and acorns. The sessile oak, which is native to Europe, is found all throughout Ireland and is also known as the Irish oak. In the autumn, the leaves of the deciduous oak turn golden yellow.
Oak tree bark: When young, the sessile oak tree has smooth gray bark that gets fissured as it grows.
Oak tree leaves: The sinuated leaves of a sessile oak tree, which are somewhat lobed and have serrated edges, may be used to identify it.
Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana)
Chestnut oak trees are medium-sized white oak trees that grow up to 70 feet (22 meters) tall with bark and leaves. The chestnut oak has a spreading crown of up to 70 feet (18 meters) wide, and the foliage and branches grow at the top of the tree.
Oak tree bark: The unique bark of the chestnut oak, which has deep fissures that create prominent peaked ridges, distinguishes it.
Oak tree leaves: The bristle tooth edges of chestnut oak leaves do not lob, and they grow in clusters. The chestnut oak leaves are also identifiable by pronounced veins in V-shapes.
Holm Oak (Quercus ilex)
Evergreen oak and holly oak are two names for the same species of white oak tree, the holm oak tree. The holm oak tree grows to 70 to 91 feet (21–28 meters) in height and is a medium to large-sized variant of the oak tree.
Oak tree bark: The bark of the Holm oak, unlike that of other kinds of oak tree, is gray to black and has tiny fissures that resemble parched ground.
Oak tree leaves: The glossy oblong to lanceolate shaped leaves of the holm oak distinguish it from other oaks.
Chinkapin Oak Tree (Quercus muehlenbergii)
The chinkapin oak, which grows to between 45 and 110 feet (20 and 33 meters), is a massive white oak tree. The limbs of this oak tree emerge from the trunk at a height that is rather low to the ground.
The chinkapin oak has pointed, not rounded teeth on its blade margins, and its leaf growth is similar to that of the chestnut oak tree. The chinkapin tree produces the sweetest acorns of all white oak tree species.
Oak tree bark: The flaky gray bark and shallow fissures of the chinkapin oak tree can be used to identify it.
Oak tree leaves: Chestnut-leafed leaves with sharper, pointed teeth and no bristles characterize the chinkapin oak tree.
Live Oak Tree (Quercus Virginiana)
The wide spread of the live oak tree’s leaves, glossy dark-green leathery leaves, and dark brown oval acorns distinguish it from other species. The thick, dark brown bark on the evergreen oak tree has deep furrows running up the trunk. Live oaks reach a height of 40 to 80 feet (12 to 24 meters) and a width of up to 100 feet (30 meters).
The live oak has thick leaves with a fuzzy underside, as opposed to conventional deciduous oak trees. The leaves have no lobed edges like English oaks, instead being an oblong, oval shape. The leaves are 2 to 5 inches (5 to 13 cm) long and 1.5 to 3 inches (4 to 8 cm) broad.
A live oak tree produces white-green flower clusters (catkins) in the spring, which comprise of oak leaves and acorns. These small clusters of inconspicuous cylindrical blooms develop to be roughly 3 inches (7.5 cm) long.
The female flowers turn into black brown egg-shaped acorns with a warty crown after they have bloomed. Live tree acorns have a dark color and caps that cover one-third of the nuts, which distinguish them from store bought acorns. From September through November, these oak tree nuts ripen in clusters of five and are ready for collection.
USDA zones 8 to 10 are ideal for live oak trees. Full sun and moist, well-drained soil are ideal for hardwood oak trees.
Oak tree bark: On immature trees, the dark brown scaly bark with crimson wrinkles is identifiable as dry oak tree bark.
Oak tree leaves: The elliptical, lanceolate form of live oak tree leaves has a glossy dark-green sheen, leathery feel, and grayish fuzzy underside.
Swamp White Oak Tree (Quercus Bicolor)
Swamp white oak has an open rounded crown, peeling dark gray bark, ovate or obovate leaves with lobed edges, and brown barrel-shaped acorns. It is a big deciduous tree with large green leaves. In the spring, dangling golden yellow catkins bloom on swamp white oaks.
Swamp white oak trees can grow up to 100 feet (30 meters) tall and broad. In open landscapes, the tree’s vast canopy makes it a great shade tree. It must be placed in well-drained, loamy soil and get full sun to grow a swamp oak tree.
Swamp white oak leaves are bright green and have a wide oval shape. The deciduous leaves are 4 to 7 inches (10 to 17 cm) long and broad. In the autumn, swamp oak tree leaves acquire a yellowish-brown or crimson hue.
Acorns of swamp white oak are round, stumpy brown nuts that are approximately 0.8 inch (2 cm) long and broad. The scaly acorn cap is covered about half of the acorn by fine hairs.
Oak tree bark: The light to dark-gray bark of swamp oak has scaly qualities and deep, rough, vertical furrows. The smooth white-gray peeling bark of immature swamp oak trees is distinctive.
Swamp white oak tree (Quercus Bicolor) bark and leaves
Oak tree leaves: The ovate form of swamp oak tree leaves, with a tapered end at the petiole, is characteristic. Five to seven shallow, rounded lobes border the green leaf margins.
Gambel Oak Tree (Quercus Gambelii)
The Gambel oak tree, which grows 10 to 30 feet (3 to 9 meters) tall, is a little shrub-like oak tree. Obovate leaves with defined deep rounded lobes, tiny greenish-brown acorns, and little yellow blooms distinguish the little oak tree. The rough brownish-gray bark of this clump-forming oak tree is also characteristic.
Gambel oak acorns are egg-shaped nuts in yellowish-green, green, and light brown hues. The leaves of the tree are immature. One-third of the acorns’ length is covered by a wide green warty cap. Locals wildlife eat the sweet nuts as a food source.
The perennial deciduous oak tree has vividly identifiable leaves with the typical oak tree leaf shape and is sometimes known as scrub oak or oak brush. The Gambel oak tree’s leaves develop bright orange, yellow, and crimson hues in the autumn.
USDA zones 4 through 8 are ideal for Gambel oak trees. Full sun is ideal for drought-tolerant trees. This suckering oak tree, although it may be trained as a hedge, prefers to grow as a landscape tree.
Oak tree bark: The bark of the Gambel oak is rough and scaly, with a brownish-gray color.
Oak tree leaves: The oval form of Gambel oak tree leaves, with deep lobes that almost reach the central vein, is a distinctive feature. 3.5″ – 4.5″ (7 – 12 cm) long and 1.5″–2.5″ (4 – 6 cm) broad, the oak leaves are 3″–4.5″.
Overcup Oak Tree (Quercus lyrata)
The peculiar light brown to tan acorns, deeply lobed glossy green leaves, and dark gray furrowed bark distinguish this species of white oak. An overcup oak’s domed crown stands out in a landscape. Overcup oaks grow to be 45 to 70 feet (13 to 21 meters) tall and have a 45-foot (13-meter) spread.
Acorns aid in identifying the overcup oak tree, which is made up of cup-shaped oak bark. The whole nut is nearly covered by the warty acorn cap. 0.5″ to 1″ (1.3 cm) long, each nut is tiny. The oak tree’s common name comes from its bur-like cap.
The lobed margins of overcup oak tree leaves are similar to those of deciduous oak trees. The top surface of the leaves is glossy green, while the underside is fuzzy gray-green. The leaves are 6” to 8” (15 – 20 cm) long. The coppery-brown or deep red of the oak tree’s fall color.
Oak tree bark: Dark gray with furrowed ridges, these irregular patterns of scaly ridges up the trunk are characteristic of overcup oak tree bark.
Oak tree leaves: Overcup oak tree leaves have a leathery feel and a distinctive wedge shape. They are glossy green with a leathery texture. The green leaves turn yellow, brown, or red in the autumn, and the oak leaf margins have five to nine deeply rounded lobes.
Swamp Chestnut Oak Tree (Quercus michauxii)
The swamp chestnut oak tree has a broad, spreading irregular crown and leaves that resemble those of the wild rose. The obovate leaves with wavy margins, brown rounded edible acorns, and scaly bark with flaky gray ridges identify the tree as a species of white oak. The swamp chestnut oak can grow up to be 65 feet (20 meters) tall.
Swamp chestnut oak tree bark and acorn feature several unique characteristics not seen in other Quercus species. Without having to leech the tannins, the huge, sweet acorns, for example, may be devoured right off the tree.
The swamp chestnut tree’s wood, which can be split into thin, flexible strips, is a unique characteristic. The tree is known as the basket oak because of its usefullness in making baskets due to this feature.
Oak tree bark: The thin, scaly, and occasionally peel-ing bark of the swamp chestnut oak tree is easily recognized.
Oak tree leaves: The obovate leaves of the swamp chestnut tree have a wavy appearance due to their serrated edges. The glossy green leaves develop a chestnut-like appearance and are 11 inches (27 cm) long. The magnificent crimson colors of the swamp chestnut tree in the autumn.
Dwarf Chestnut Oak Tree (Quercus prinoides)
The little deciduous shrub-like tree grows 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6 meters) tall and bears the name dwarf chestnut oak (Quercus Prinoides). The leaves of the dwarf oak are oval, with serrated margins and acorns that are brownish-gray in color and texture.
Dwarf chestnut oak leaves and acorn
Oak tree bark: With a scaly bark and irregular fissures, the dwarf chestnut oak bark is dark brown or gray.
Oak tree leaves: Ovoid leaves with tiny lobes around the margins are recognized as dwarf chestnut oak leaves. Leaves are 2.5″ (6 cm) broad and 2″ to 5″ (5 – 13 cm) long.
Bluejack Oak Tree (Quercus incana)
Bluejack Oak is a medium-sized tree with blue-green foliage, a short trunk, and an irregular crown. It has brown acorns and is covered in bluejack oak (Quercus incana) bark. The tiny dwarf oak tree has no autumn color, despite its attractive glossy leaves. The average height of a bluejack oak tree is 30 feet (10 meters).
Bluejack oak leaves and acorn
Oak tree bark: Dark gray or black bark with deep furrows and square plates gives rise to the name bluejack oak.
Oak tree leaves: 4″ (10 cm) long and 1″ (2.5 cm) broad, glossy green leaves with a rounded apex characterize bluejack oak leaves. Until winter, the leathery leaves on the tree stay.
Bluff Oak Tree (Quercus austrina)
The bluff oak tree is distinguished by its tiny brown acorns with a gray scaly cap and light gray-brownish bark with scaly ridges. It is a deciduous oak tree that produces little brown acorns with a gray scaly cap. Bluff oak trees have an open, rounded crown and grow between 45 and 60 feet (14 and 18 meters) tall.
Oak tree bark: Scaly, light gray-brown bark develops into wide ridges on bluff oak trees.
Oak tree leaves: The blade margins of bluff oak leaves are shallow and elliptical, with slender lobes. The leaves are 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) long and broad, and they grow up to 4 inches (10 cm). The yellow, orange, or coppery-brown color of the oak tree’s fall foliage.
Chapman Oak Tree (Quercus chapmanii)
The Chapman oak tree is found in Florida and the southern United States, with leaves and bark. The grayish-brown scaly bark and oblong leaves with occasional no lobes, or wavy rounded lobes distinguish the tiny, shrub-like oak tree. In the fall, small groups of brown acorns with grey hats emerge. Only 20 feet (6 meters) tall are the Chapman oak trees.
Chapman oak acorns
Oak tree bark: Scaly plates on Chapman oak tree bark range in color from light gray to light brown.
Oak tree leaves: The oak leaves change from yellow to red in the autumn and have an oblong form with a rounded apex.
Myrtle Oak (Quercus myrtifolia)
Myrtle oak is a scrub oak that exists as a shrub rather than a tree. It has leaves and acorns. The little myrtle oak shrub grows 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 meters) tall, whereas this evergreen oak shrub thrives in Florida, where it grows 40 feet (12 meters) tall. Obovate or rounded leathery leaves, globular acorns, and a spreading rounded crown identify this oak.
Oak tree bark: Myrtle oak bark is light-brown with white ridges and deep furrows.
Oak tree leaves: There are no lobes along the margin of Myrtle oak leaves. The 2″ (5 cm) long by 1″ (2.5 cm) broad leathery green leaves are quite impressive.
Blue Oak (Quercus douglasii)
The blue oak tree, also known as Quercus douglasii, is a beautiful California native. The tree has bluish-green leaves, light gray bark with black, deep furrows, and sweet, tear-shaped pointed light green acorns. It is also known as the mountain oak or iron oak. The irregular crown of blue oaks grows to be 50 to 80 feet (15 – 24 meters) tall.
Blue oak acorn and leaves
Oak tree bark: The thin, flaky, and light gray color of mature green oak bark.
Oak tree leaves: The leaves of blue oak trees are leathery, elliptical, and have lobed borders. The leaves are 1.6 to 4 inches (4 to 10 cm) long.
Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis)
The canon live oak is a spreading evergreen oak tree with thick dark-green leaves and a wide, spreading crown. Live oaks in the canyon may reach heights of 30 to 80 feet (9 – 24 meters). The oblong, pointed leaves, light chestnut-brown acorns, and bushy appearance distinguish the shrub.
Canyon live oak leaves, acorns and bark
Oak tree bark: The thicker stems of this multi-stemmed shrub develop deep furrows, and the Canyon live oak tree has smooth or flaky bark.
Oak tree leaves: The glossy, leathery lanceolate leaves of the canyon live oak tree have a rough, spiny appearance. The pointed tip and blunt base of the evergreen leaves are 1″ – 3″ (2.5 cm) long and 1″ – 2″ (2.5 cm) wide.