Texas Red Oak

The Texas Red Oak (Quercus buckleyi) is a medium-sized shade tree. It has a rounded, spreading crown that is almost as wide as it is tall and typically has more than one trunk greater than 10” in diameter. Its foliage is broadly elliptic to ovate, hairless, with a glossy green color, coppery green underside and stunning bright red fall color. They have 5-9 deeply divided, triangular lobes that are broadest at the tip and end in bristle-tipped teeth. It produces small acorns that are typically one-third to one-half its length encapsulated by its cupule. The bark provides nice winter interest, dark gray to black and smooth on younger trees and the mature ones with platelike scales.  

The Texas Red Oak was named after Travis Buckley, a well-known Texas botanist and geologist. Its native range is central Texas north to Oklahoma and Kansas and west to the Pecos River. It is found growing in the wild along limestone ridges and slopes and small streams. This tree is often confused with the Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii), but the Texas Red is more drought tolerant, has smaller and glossier leaves and its overall form is smaller and more often has multiple main trunks.

This does fantastic as a shade tree in warmer, drier climates. Very popular as a landscape tree in central Texas. It does best in full sun and drier, alkaline soils. Can grow up to 70 feet in fertile soils.