Also called champion oak.
In 🇺🇸 USA, do not confuse with similar-named sister-species
◼︎ southern red oak Quercus falcata,
both among the
◼︎ red oaks.
Part of
oak genus Quercus
in
beech / oak family Fagaceae
in
bayberry / beech / birch / oak / walnut order Fagales.
Native to 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 Canada and USA, east of the 🏔 Rocky Mountains.
🗺 Map by county (🇺🇸 USA-48),
🗺 map (North America, Central America),
🗺 today + with climate change (eastern 🇺🇸 USA).
🏛🌳︎ Provincial tree of Prince Edward Island PEI. 🏛🌳︎ State tree of New Jersey.
In this area:
due to possible infestation by
oak wilt disease (OWD) Bretziella fagacearum.
Uses by native peoples
(Ethnobotany database)
Its 🪵 wood is used to make furniture and barrels (usually for dry goods — ◼︎ red oak has open pores, while ◼︎ white oak has occluded pores).
Leaves and acorns ☠︎ toxic[?] to humans,
although many cultures process acorns to remove their tannins, making acorns an important staple food.
Quercus hosts caterpillars of 534 species
of butterflies and moths, in some areas.
This plant is also known to be a host for (in areas where invasive)
🐝︎ spotted lanternfly (SLF) Lycorma delicatula.
If your oak is growing a few meters (yards) from a potential parent tree, its acorn probably fell there or was planted by a
squirrel family Sciuridae.
If your oak is growing a kilometer (mile) away from a potential parent tree, its acorn was probably planted by a
🐦︎ jay family Corvidae,
with whom it coevolved.
— That and lots more interesting information in interview
"Our Most Essential Trees: The Nature of Oaks, with Doug Tallamy" The joe gardener Show.
or its
🔊︎ audio
This tree grows large, and gives great shade.
Planting info (SW Michigan).