Quercus shumardii: Shumard Oak: ENH-719/ST561, 12/2018

Abstract

Growing 80 feet tall with a 50 to 60-foot spread, Shumard Oak forms a large, stately tree with a narrow, rather open, rounded canopy, somewhat reminiscent of Red Oak. The crown spreads with age becoming round at maturity. The four to eight-inch-long deciduous leaves are deeply-lobed (more so than Quercus rubra ) and have bristles on the tips of some lobes. A lovely dark green during most of the year, Shumard Oak puts on a vivid display of brilliant red to red-orange fall and winter foliage, providing a dramatic landscape statement. Fall and winter coloration varies from year to year in USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9. During the winter the bare tree provides interesting branching patterns. The 1.5-inch-wide acorns are surrounded by a shallow, enclosing cup and are popular with wildlife. Original publication date November 1993.