Northern Red Oak vs Shumard Oak
This guide is under construction and has not been published yet. It may have errors. When in doubt, double-check other sources for definitive ID.These two red oaks are frequently confused where they overlap, mostly in the south-central U.S. and parts of the midwest and southeast. Both have large leaves and acorns. Although some trees are easy to tell apart, some are very similar in appearance.
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) | Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii) |
A large tree, one of the dominant components of the forests of eastern North America, native to a wide range of the northeastern U.S. and Canada, extending well into the south. | A large red oak native to calcium-rich bottomlands in the southeastern to central US. |
 Leaves more oval-shaped, with widest point closer to the middle of the leaf. Photo © Aaron Boers, CC BY 4.0. |  Leaves more wedge-shaped, with widest point closer to the tip. Photo © Nate Martineau, CC BY 4.0. |
References & External Resources
These short lists show only links helpful for ID. For a complete list of references and resources also covering other aspects of ecology, visit the links section of the full article on each plant, which is the first entry here.
