Scarlet Oak

Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea) is the deciduous shade tree to plant when you have real room and want autumn colour that stops people in the street. It reaches around 15m tall and 10m across, with a broad open crown of deeply cut leaves that turn brilliant scarlet before dropping. This is a long term tree for a large garden, an acreage or an avenue, not a courtyard.

Why you'll love it

• The best red of any oak. The autumn display is a clean scarlet rather than the muddy bronze many oaks give here.
• Genuine summer shade. A 10m crown shades a house wall or paving, then drops its leaves and lets the winter sun back in.
• Tough once established. Frost hardy, drought tolerant and wind tolerant, so exposed paddocks and cold inland gardens suit it.
• A tree with presence. Straight trunk, strong branch structure and furrowed bark that reads well in winter.

Where it works best

Shade tree. Give it at least 10m clear of buildings, paving and services. Planted on the western side of a house it cuts afternoon heat in summer without darkening the place in winter.

Driveways and avenues. Because the crown finishes near 10m wide, space trees 8m to 10m apart so the canopies just meet rather than crowding.

Feature planting. A single specimen on a lawn or at a rural entry is the classic use, where the full crown can develop unpruned.

Growing scarlet oak in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, in a cool temperate or warm temperate climate. Cold winters sharpen the colour, so gardens in Victoria, the tablelands and the southern highlands get the strongest display. It is not a tree for tropical or subtropical gardens, where the leaves usually turn dull brown.

Soil. It prefers a deep, free draining, slightly acidic soil and resents constant wet. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound and improve a wide area rather than a narrow hole. Mulch to the drip line, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soakings once or twice a week through the first two summers, then it carries itself on moderate water. A slow release tree fertiliser in early spring is enough.

Pruning. Very little is needed. Remove crossing or low branches in late winter while it is bare to set a clear trunk, then leave the crown alone. Growth is slow to moderate, often 30cm to 50cm a year.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 400mm, 45L and 100L. The 400mm is the value option and establishes quickly, while the 45L and 100L trees arrive with real height and a formed trunk. Bear in mind it is deciduous, so a tree despatched in winter arrives bare and leafs out in spring.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect the first season to go into roots rather than height, then steady growth from year two, backed by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse trees and plants with autumn colour
• Choosing a canopy tree for shade
• Compare the deciduous tree range
• Advanced trees for immediate height

Common questions

How big does a scarlet oak get, and how fast?

About 15m tall and 10m wide, reached over several decades. Growth is slow to moderate, so plant it for the long term or start with a 45L or 100L tree.

Will it colour up in a warm garden?

In warm temperate districts it colours well most years, though later and less intensely than in a cold climate. In tropical and subtropical gardens the leaves brown rather than redden.

How far from the house should I plant it?

At least 10m from walls, paving, pipes and boundaries. Oak roots are strong and the crown is wide, so crowding it now creates an expensive problem in twenty years.