Quercus coccinea #25

Michael Dirr, one of the experts in the country on trees and shrubs, has written that, if he had to choose but one oak to plant, it would be a scarlet oak. Although we are big fans of all the oaks we carry, we can't disagree with that. We have at least 10 of them planted at Hornbaker Gardens, including five in the median of the Barn's parking lot. Molly and Russ chose a scarlet oak to plant near the Barn's wedding site the day they got married. The glossy, dark green foliage is attractive all spring and summer, and then turns brilliant scarlet in the fall, holding its color much later than the maples. It can eventually grow to a majestic 70' tall with a spread of 40-45'. Hardy to Zone 4.