Northern Red Oak vs Shumard's Oak
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's Oak (Quercus shumardii) |
A large tree and one of the major components of the forests of eastern North America, the northern red oak has a wider range than its name may suggest, extending quite far into the "deep south", but also covering a large portion of the northeastern U.S. and into Canada. | 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.