Nuttall’s Oak – 3 gal

Common names: Texas red oak. Often confused with Shumard red oak.

There is much confusion about this beauty. Previously (and still in nurseries today), quercus texana is confused with other species due to an early mix-up with the Latin name. The Nuttall’s oak, with its “texana” label is also confused with Texas Red Oak that is actually Buckley’s Oak or quercus buckleyi. It is also referred to as Red River oak. And, to add more confusion, even very astute arborists often cannot distinguish Shumard’s from Nutall’s. So do not be confused when you hear it called by various names.

Nutall’s Oak is a very adaptable, fast-growing deciduous tree that has gained deserved attention from landscapers, landscape architects, and horticulturists in the know. Its rapid growth, flexible soil requirements, and abundant canopy as a young tree makes it the perfect front yard specimen or backyard shade-giver. Also, makes the perfect street-lining tree. For those in flood-prone areas note that Q. texana is rapidly recovers its gas exchange after flooding…and can handle droughts.
Another reason to make it your go-to oak tree is the reliable fall colors. From a burgundy that you cannot look away from to an orange red, it really gives maples a run for their money!

Nuttall’s Oak Native Range

Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and western Tennessee, far west Kentucky, southernmost area of Illinois, southeast Missouri, east Texas, southeast Oklahoma

General Characteristics of Nuttall’s Oak

• Tree Size: large tree
• Exposure: sun
• Fruit Characteristics: Brown/copper acorns are 3/4″ – 1 1/4″ long and covered 1/3 – 1/2 by cap
• Height: 40- 85 ft
• Width: 30-60 ft
• Plant Character: deciduous
• Heat Tolerance: high
• Water Requirements: medium low
• Soil Requirements: The Nuttall oak grows in acidic or alkaline, loamy, sandy, moist, wet, well-drained, and clay soils.
• Nuttall’s oak does not go yellow in alkaline soils like other oaks. It is moderately drought-tolerant.
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 6b to 9a

Leaf Shape & Habit

Its medium-large leaves wave in the wind. New growth and fall color can be burgundy, known as quercus Texana var. Sangria. But, most Nuttalls have leaves that emerge green and in the fall turn a rusty red to purple before leaving the tree bare during its winter dormancy. Leaf characteristics:

• Leaf Complexity: Simple
• Leaf Shape: Lanceolate
• Leaf Venation: Pinnate
• Leaf Margin: Lobed
• Leaf Apex: Acute
• Leaf Base: Rounded

Bark, Limbs & Canopy

The bark at first is grey-brown and smooth. As it matures, the bark grays with black in the wide flat ridges.

The Nuttall’s Oak canopy is very pyramidal with a singular trunk.

Its central trunk is one of the primary ways to tell a Shumard red oak form a Nuttall’s oak in that a Shumard’s limbs tends to be craggy and have multiple main branches compared to the very pyramid-shaped Nuttall though Nuttall’s can appear more like a Shumard sometimes because, after all, it is nature.

Its limb structure lends to a beautiful architectural sight during its winter dormant period.

Flowers, Fruits, & Seeds

Small female flowers develop at bud-break in spring when leaves begin to develop. The male staminate flowers are on gold/yellow/greenish catkins.

Wind pollination produces rather large acorns that fill in by late summer, shedding in fall.

 

Habitat & Conservation

The Nuttall’s oak acorns are a favorite food source for turkey, deer, mice, voles, and unfortunately feral hogs. The trees offer nesting for not only birds, but also for a wide variety of butterflies and moths.

Note that acorns can cause issues for horses from diarrhea to colic to kidney failure though a large number of acorns are required to be digested to cause any significant issues.