Scarlet Oak

Scarlet oak earns its name every October when the deeply lobed, glossy leaves turn brilliant scarlet-red, one of the most vivid and saturated fall colors of any oak species. The leaves are deeply cut with pointed lobes, glossier than most oaks, and the fall display is dramatic enough to identify the tree from a moving car. It grows seventy to eighty feet with a rounded, open crown. Native from Maine to Minnesota and south to Georgia and Mississippi.

In Western Washington, scarlet oak performs well in full sun with well-drained, acidic soil, the same conditions that favor blueberries and rhododendrons. It does not tolerate wet clay or alkaline conditions. The fall color is its primary selling point and is reliably excellent in this region. No significant disease or pest concerns are tracked. The main consideration is space: like most oaks, this is a large tree that needs room. Pin oak is more commonly planted, but scarlet oak typically produces better fall color with less susceptibility to iron chlorosis. For a large, long-lived shade tree with the best fall color in the oak genus, scarlet oak is the one to plant.