Two species of red oak, the northern red oak (Quercus rubra) and the southern red oak (Quercus falcata), occur in Mississippi. They are among more than a dozen species in the broader red oak group that are native to the state. Others in the group include eastern black oak, water oak, cherrybark oak, willow oak, Nuttal oak, scarlet oak, blackjack oak, shingle oak, pin oak, Darlington oak, laurel oak, and Shumard oak.
Trees in the red oak group have leaves with points or bristles, darker bark, and acorns that mature in 2 years. Trees in the white oak group have rounded leaves, lighter bark, and acorns that mature in 1 year.
At least 34 species of all types of oaks are found in Mississippi. The southern red oak is found throughout Mississippi; the northern red oak is more likely to be found in the northeastern counties. The southern red oak prefers dry, upland sites, while the northern red oak is found in moist soils.
Red oaks are favored by landscapers as shade trees, wildlife biologists value their acorns as food for wildlife, and foresters value the strong and durable wood products they yield. Products include veneer, interior trim, flooring, furniture, railroad ties, and fence posts. Timber products rank second only to poultry for annual agricultural income in Mississippi. The economic contribution of forestry and forest products in Mississippi is more than $10 billion per year.
Red oaks grow rapidly—up to 2 feet per year. They can grow to 80 feet tall or more, with an average spread of 45 feet. Trees growing in a forest will have longer trunks and fewer branches until much farther up the tree, whereas those found in parks and gardens will appear shorter and fuller, with trunks as wide as 3 feet.
All oaks provide important food for a variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, wood duck, black bear, squirrels, racoons, various songbirds, and woodpeckers. Acorns are rich in protein, fats, carbohydrates, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, and potassium.
Acorns of certain species in the red oak group can provide 10% or more of the diet of various wildlife in Mississippi and other southeastern states, according to Mississippi Trees, a book published by the Mississippi Forestry Commission. Wildlife Mississippi often uses cherrybark oak, a species in the red oak group, in its forest restoration projects, because of its value for wildlife. A variety of hardwood species are used in restoration projects.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission, in conjunction with the Department of Forestry at Mississippi State University, produced a second edition of its Mississippi Trees book in 2016. The book, which is available online as a pdf, is nearly 400 pages long and provides nontechnical audiences with descriptions of common trees in Mississippi. A smartphone app, for Apple and Android devices, has been adapted from the book. Find it by searching for Mississippi Trees.
