Gardening Plants & Flowers Trees

18 Types of Oak Trees to Grow in Your Yard

And why you should plant them in your landscape

By
Les Engels
A picture of Les Engels
Les Engels
Les Engles achieved Master Gardener through the Camden County Extension of the Rutgers Master Gardeners Program. He is an arboretum curator with over 30 years of experience. He describes himself as a "tree-hugging dirt worshipper" who is a member of multiple gardening societies and foundations.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Published on 05/28/23
A view of the famous Angel Oak, a southern live oak.

DieterMeyrl/Getty Images

There are about 500 species of oak trees. This group of trees from the Querus genus is for the most part composed of large, stately trees that the standard image of a deciduous tree. Most people recognize oaks by their acorns and spot common species by their lobed leaves. Still, the genus is incredibly varied and is invaluable for spreading that variety to the environment.

Oaks have a great amount of biodiversity within their canopies down to their roots, supporting numerous invertebrates and types of wildlife. They have undeniable beauty, providing shade, stunning fall colors, and lush foliage in the spring. If you have the space and time to commit to this type of tree, planting an oak in your landscape is something you may want to consider so that you and your environment can reap the rewards for years to come.

Here are 18 types of oak trees to consider planting.

  • 01 of 18

    Black Oak

    black oak tree.

    JoanWynn / Getty Images

    The black oak is a large deciduous tree native to most of the United States east of the Great Plains. The species gets its name from its bark, which turns almost completely black with rough ridges. Its large size and the fact that, like most oaks, it does not deal well with competition make it perfect as a solitary shade or specimen tree.

    • Name: Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
    • USDA Zones: 3 to 9
    • Size: 50 to 60 ft. tall, 50 to 60 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Average, well-draining soil
    Continue to 2 of 18 below
  • 02 of 18

    Southern Live Oak

    southern live oak.

    Leslie Quiroz / Getty Images

    The Southern live oak is emblematic of the southern United States. These large trees across the South can be centuries old, with crowns reaching out 100 feet or more and branches so long they occasionally touch the ground. Ideally growing in moist to wet soil and preferring warm, humid temperatures, the species is perfect for the conditions in the South, making the two a perfect match.

    • Name: Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
    • USDA Zones: 8 to 10
    • Size: 40-80ft tall, 60-100 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Average, medium to wet, well-drained
    Continue to 3 of 18 below
  • 03 of 18

    Blackjack Oak

    One of the smaller-sized oaks, the blackjack oak is also one of the less distinguished looking of the genus. It lacks the grace of many of its larger cousins and does not share the lovely color that many other red-grouped oaks show in the fall. The blackjack oak shines in that it is especially attractive to wildlife and will draw various butterfly and moth species to your landscape. Sadly, in the aesthetics department, the only thing to note that the species has to speak of is its somewhat attractive leaves that are glossy and leather-like during the growing season, fading to dull yellow in fall.

    • Name: Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica)
    • USDA Zones: 6 to 9
    • Size: 20 to 40 ft. tall, 20 to 40 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Acidic, dry to medium, well-drained soils 
    Continue to 4 of 18 below
  • 04 of 18

    Bur Oak

    One of the most beautiful trees on the list, bur oak is what most people envision when they imagine an oak tree. This species has a large trunk, rounded crown, dark green leaves with rounded lobes, big acorns, beautiful fall colors, and longevity. This is a slow-growing tree that will grace the landscape with its presence for decades, if not centuries, not even producing acorns until about 35 years or so have passed.

    • Name: Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
    • Zone: 3 to 8
    • Size: 60 to 80 ft. tall, 60 to 80 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium, well-drained soils 
    Continue to 5 of 18 below
  • 05 of 18

    Chestnut Oak

    chestnut oak tree

    Darrell Gulin / Getty Images

    The chestnut oak is known for its bark that resembles the American chestnut tree and its unique leaves with lobes that appear more serrated than lobed. This species makes an excellent shade or specimen tree if enough space is provided.

    • Name: Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana)
    • USDA Zones: 3 to 8
    • Size: 60 to 80 ft. tall, 60 to 80 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture
    Continue to 6 of 18 below
  • 06 of 18

    Chinkapin Oak

    Chinkapin oak tree

    Beekeepx / Getty Images

    While the chinkapin oak is not commonly found in the nursery trade, it should be sought after if looking for a conversation-starting shade or specimen tree. With leaves unlike any other oak, this species' leaves resemble the chestnut more than oak. Its name, chinkapin, means chestnut—the acorn tastes similar to a roasted chestnut.

    • Name: Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
    • USDA Zones: 5 to 7
    • Size: 40 to 60 ft. tall, 50 to 70 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Moist, fertile loams
    Continue to 7 of 18 below
  • 07 of 18

    Cork Oak

    cork oak trees

    Mike Powles / Getty Images

    One of the most interesting oaks on the list is the cork oak. This useful tree is usually not planted for its beauty but for its usefulness in the making of cork. The tree can live for centuries. Initially, the bark grows furrowed and un-uniform for the first 12 years of the tree's life. This first layer of bark is removed and discarded, allowing a second, more uniform layer to regrow. After nine to 12 years, the new layer is removed, and the process begins again.

    • Name: Cork Oak (Quercus suber) 
    • USDA Zones: 5 to 7
    • Size: 75 to 90 ft. tall, 60 to 70 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained loams
    Continue to 8 of 18 below
  • 08 of 18

    Engelmann Oak

    The Englemann oak is endangered, with a native habitat is a tiny swatch of land in the southern California desert. It is a beautiful tree with a very small habitable zone, and it needs help to survive. It is an evergreen oak with beautiful green foliage. In the Pacific Northwest, it becomes deciduous. Englemann oak is a great choice for those considering xeriscaping or a waterwise garden.

    • Name: Engelmann Oak (Quercus Englemanii)
    • USDA Zones: 8 to 10
    • Size: 65 ft. tall, 80 to 120 ft. wide.
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
    Continue to 9 of 18 below
  • 09 of 18

    Northern Red Oak Tree

    northern red oak

    Mantonature / Getty Images

    To say that the northern red oak is stunning in the fall is an understatement. The foliage of this tree is lit ablaze come October and November. The northern red oak also provides food for countless bird, insect, and mammal species while giving a habitat to just as many.

    • Name: Northern Red Oak Tree (Quercus rubra)
    • USDA Zones: 4 to 8
    • Size: 50 to 75 ft. tall, 50 to 75 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, acidic soil
    Continue to 10 of 18 below
  • 10 of 18

    Scarlet Oak

    A photo of a scalet oak tree in late fall

    Ronald Wilson Photography / Getty Images

    The only tree on the list that upstages the northern red oak when it comes to fall colors is the scarlet oak. In fall the scarlet oak's colors start vibrant and dazzling and finish off a deep luxurious scarlet. Unlike the northern red oak, the scarlet oak can live further southward, but the fall colors will not be as prominent.

    • Name: Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)
    • USDA Zones: 4 to 9
    • Size: 50 to 70 ft. tall, 40 to 50 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Dry, acidic, sandy soil
    Continue to 11 of 18 below
  • 11 of 18

    English Oak

    english oak tree

    Travelpix Ltd / Getty Images

    When most people think of an oak tree, this is the species they envision. The stately English oak has been a representation of royalty and strength due to its majestic size and the strength of its wood. Planting this tree in your landscape will make a statement, giving you a regal specimen tree and providing seemingly endless shade below its vast crown.

    • Name: English Oak (Quercus robur)
    • USDA Zones: 5 to 8
    • Size: 40 to 70 ft. tall, 40 to 70 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained loams
    Continue to 12 of 18 below
  • 12 of 18

    Evergreen Oak

    evergreen oak

    Ventura Carmona / Getty Images

    One of the most interesting oaks on the list is the evergreen oak from the Mediterranean. This species also called the holly oak due to its holly-like spined leaves. It has attractive green acorns that mature to a bright red before they fall. Usually, the evergreen oak will be seen as a single tree with a large globular crown dominating its form, but occasionally it's used with other evergreen oaks to form a privacy or shade screen.

    • Name:  Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex)
    • USDA Zone: 7 to 10
    • Size: 40-70 ft. tall, 40-70 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained loams
    Continue to 13 of 18 below
  • 13 of 18

    White Oak Tree

    white oak tree

    Dee / Getty Images

    The white oak used to be a very popular landscape tree, but as properties grew smaller, its use was reduced to mostly a park and street tree. The species grows quite large and can provide a good amount of shade. In fall it can provide the odd burst of bright reds but tends to show tamer tones.

    • Name: White Oak Tree (Quercus alba)
    • USDA Zones: 3 to 9
    • Size: 50 to 80 ft. tall, 50 to 80 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, acidic, well-drained
    Continue to 14 of 18 below
  • 14 of 18

    Pin Oak

    pin oak.

    Seven75 / Getty Images

    One of the most popular oaks in the nursery trade, pin oak is often used in landscapes and as a street tree. It is fast-growing, attractive, and hearty, with a pyramidal crown suitable for smaller yards and streets.

    • Name:  Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
    • USDA Zones: 4 to 8
    • Size: 50 to 70 ft. tall, 40 to 60 feet wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Average, medium to wet, acidic soils
    Continue to 15 of 18 below
  • 15 of 18

    Post Oak

    post oak tree in autumn

    epantha / Getty Images

    The post oak is named for its famously strong, decay-resistant wood that made incredibly durable fence posts. It's now most often used for urban forestry projects, lining warm streets in the southern U.S. Its relatively small size makes it a great addition to a smaller yard that would benefit from some shade in summer and color in fall.

    • Name: Post Oak (Quercus stellata)
    • USDA Zones: 5 to 9
    • Size: 35 to 50 ft. tall, 35 to 50 feet wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, acidic, well-drained loams
    Continue to 16 of 18 below
  • 16 of 18

    Shumard Oak

    Shumard oak tree in autumn

    JOSE LUIS VEGA GARCIA / Getty Images

    The Shumard oak is a perfect tree for an urban landscape that needs some shade in the warmer months and a big punch of color in the autumn months. Being very tolerant of urban pollution, the Shumard oak can hold its own in city landscapes and thrive as a street tree. Besides this added versatility, this species' becomes bright orange to red with dark speckles in fall.

    • Name: Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)
    • USDA Zones: 5 to 9
    • Size: 40 to 60 ft. tall, 30 to 40 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Acidic, well-drained soils
    Continue to 17 of 18 below
  • 17 of 18

    Willow Oak

    The beautiful crown of a willow oak tree

    Marina Denisenko / Getty Images

    Willow oaks are very pretty trees with graceful leaves that resemble willow leaves. Like willows, this oak species prefers wet to moist soil. This trait makes it a great addition to a planting list when planning a rain garden. Willow oaks make wonderful accent trees for adorning the sides of a rain garden and providing a habitat for wildlife that feed on the herbaceous plants in your garden.

    • Name: Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)
    • USDA Zones: 5 to 9
    • Size: 40 to 75 ft. tall, 25 to 50 feet wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Medium to wet, well-drained soils
    Continue to 18 of 18 below
  • 18 of 18

    Sawtooth Oak

    sawtooth oak tree's crown

    Billy_Fam / Getty Images

    The sawtooth oak is a native of Asia that makes a huge impact when added to Asian-style gardens. Its delicately serrated leaves highlight the tree's appeal as they flutter softly in the wind. The tree has become invasive and obtained noxious weed status in some eastern and midwestern areas of the U.S. Check with your local extension service before planting.

    • Name: Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima)
    • USDA Zones: 6 to 9
    • Size: 40 to 60 ft. tall, 40 to 60 ft. wide
    • Sun: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Rich, humusy, medium moisture