The Size of Oak Trees

Size

• Oak trees are generally very large and majestic in form. Depending on the species, the trees are anywhere from 60 to 70 feet tall with a 40- to 50-foot spread. Some varieties are even taller. The trees have gray-colored, scaly or furrowed bark, and the foliage is lobed, smooth or serrated. The leaves of the deciduous varieties assume bright yellow shades in fall. Oak tree acorns are a highly coveted food for squirrels and a number of other wildlife.

White Oak Varieties

• White oak varieties include live oak (Quercus virginiana), Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) and Chapman oak (Quercus chapmanii). Chapman oak has a mature height of about 50 feet with smooth-edged, 3 1/2-inch-long, silvery green leaves. The tree also bears acorns. Chinkapin oak grows up to 80 feet tall with a narrow, round crown. Live oaks grow anywhere between 40 and 50 feet tall with a trunk diameter of up to 4 feet.

Red Oak Varieties

• Black oak (Quercus velutina) is a member of the red oak group and achieves a full height of 70 to 85 feet with a wide, spreading crown. The wedge-shaped foliage has five to seven broad to narrow lobes. The red oak group also includes the laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia) with a mature height of up to 60 feet and a 3- to 4-foot trunk diameter and a dense crown. The Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii), also a red oak variety, easily grows to 90 or more feet if provided optimal growing conditions. The tree grows along river and stream banks in its native habitat.

Uses

• Oaks are important sources of lumber all over the world for ship construction, barrel staves, flooring and furniture. Dyes, tannins and corks are also obtained from oak trees. Oak wood is used for fuel in homes. The pulp obtained from the wood is used in the paper industry.