Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak)
Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak)
Couldn't load pickup availability
$30 minimum per species for seed.
$30 minimum per species for seed.
Each species requires a minimum of $30 of seed to proceed with checkout.
Pure Live Seed
Pure Live Seed
Seed is provided in Pure Live Seed (PLS) unless otherwise stated.
Pure Live Seed (PLS) refers to the percentage of a seed lot that consists of the desired species and is viable (capable of germination).
Here's why PLS is crucial for native seeds:
-
Accurate Planting:
- PLS helps determine the actual number of viable seeds in a given weight or volume of seed.
- This ensures you plant the correct amount of seed to achieve the desired density and success rate.
-
Cost-Effectiveness:
- By knowing the PLS, you can avoid overspending on seed that may not germinate.
- This is especially important for native seeds, which can be more expensive than some cultivated varieties.
-
Weed Control:
- PLS helps minimize the presence of weed seeds within the seed lot.
- This reduces competition for resources and ensures the successful establishment of the desired native plants.
-
Ecological Restoration:
- Using high-quality native seeds with a high PLS is essential for successful ecological restoration projects.
- It helps to re-establish diverse and resilient plant communities that support local wildlife.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
0.01 pounds = 0.16 ounces
- 0.1 pounds = 1.6 ounces
- 0.25 pounds = 4 ounces
- 0.5 pounds = 8 ounces
- 0.75 pounds = 12 ounces
- 1.00 pounds = 16 ounces
Scarlet oak develops a broad crown and deeply lobed leaves that turn red in autumn. Choose its permanent site carefully: this large tree favors well-drained, acidic soil and can be difficult to transplant.
Sun exposure for Quercus coccinea: full sun; Partial shade. Soil conditions: well-drained; Occasionally dry. Recorded habitats include dry upland forests. Reported height: 50 ft–80 ft.
Its below-ground structure is described as taproot. Choose the permanent location with that root structure and the mature size in mind. Planning the surrounding space at planting time reduces the need to reorganize an established bed later.
Plant specifications & ecological relationships
Key growing facts
| Sunlight | Full sun; Partial shade |
|---|---|
| Soil moisture | Well-drained; Occasionally dry |
| Height | 50 ft–80 ft |
| Bloom season | April–May; timing varies with latitude, elevation and weather |
Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
| Growth habit | Large deciduous tree with a rounded, open crown |
|---|---|
| Root form | Taproot |
| Soil pH | Prefers acidic soil |
| Cultivation hardiness zones | Zones 5–8 (Morton Arboretum guidance) |
| Drought tolerance | Drought tolerance listed by Extension; degree is unspecified |
| Deer browsing | Deer resistance reported in cultivation guidance; browsing remains possible. |
| Salt tolerance | None |
| Plant toxicity | Poison characteristics are reported; listed parts: leaves, seeds. Pet safety is not established. |
Plant identification & seed reference
| Botanical name | Quercus coccinea |
|---|---|
| Other common names | scarlet oak; Black oak; Scarlet oak |
| Seed germination | USDA lists cold stratification as required; duration is not specified. |
| Plant family | Fagaceae |
| Seeds per pound — reference estimate | 235 |
Plant characteristics
This tree produces an impressive fall show with its intense red leaves, thus the name Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak). This tree performs well in yards, grows at a fast rate, and can live for up to 200 years! It has a traditional oval or pyramidal shape so it can perform as a specimen tree.
Show / hide ▾Plant communities & associates
Other documented plant associations
These published associations show how this plant fits into natural vegetation. The region and community are identified for each list; moisture, shade and flooding can differ within a community.
Central hardwood forests; different stand types
Central part of the American hornbeam range
Other regional plant communities
These plants are named with this species in published vegetation accounts. Each list keeps its community and region; some records describe a shared vegetation type rather than neighboring plants in a measured plot. They are ecological records, not a planting recipe, and may include plants unsuitable for a particular garden.
- Mixed forest canopy (Eastern and central North America): Quercus alba.
- Upland oak forests (Eastern and central North America): Quercus alba, Quercus velutina, Quercus rubra.
- Pine forests (Appalachian Mountains): Pinus pungens.
- Upland oak forest (Central and Great Lakes region): Quercus ellipsoidalis.
Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value
| Wetland indicator — Corps Chicago 2017 table | UPL |
|---|---|
| C-value — Chicago region, Flora 2017 | 5 |
| Chicago-region native — Flora 2017 | Yes |
| Native range — U.S. states | Alabama; Arkansas; Connecticut; Delaware; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Kentucky; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Mississippi; Missouri; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; Tennessee; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin |
| County nativity | Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity. |
Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlife
Caterpillars & other plant-feeding insects
This plant has published caterpillar host records for the butterflies and moths listed below. These are larval feeding relationships, separate from adult nectar visits. The records span a North American literature compilation and do not establish that every insect occurs locally or uses only this plant.
Butterflies & skippers
- Gesta juvenalis — Juvenal's Duskywing
Moths
- Acleris semipurpurana — Oak Leaf Shredder, Oak Leaftier, Oak Leafshredder
- Acronicta americana — American Dagger
- Alsophila pometaria — Fall Cankerworm Moth
- Amphipyra pyramidoides — Miranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
- Anisota senatoria — Orange-Tipped Oakworm Moth, Orangestriped Oakworm
- Antaeotricha osseella
- Antaeotricha schlaegeri — Schlaeger's Fruitworm Moth
- Archips argyrospila — Fruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
- Arogalea cristifasciella — Stripe-Backed Moth, White Stripe-Backed Moth
- Automeris io — Io Moth
- Blastobasis glandulella — Acorn Moth
- Catocala coccinata — Scarlet Underwing
- Cenopis directana — Chokecherry Leafroller Moth
- Cenopis pettitana — Maple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
- Chaetaglaea sericea — Silky Sallow
- Chionodes adamas
- Chionodes fuscomaculella — White-Spotted Chionodes
- Chionodes pereyra
- Coptotriche citrinipennella — Oakleaf Edgeminer
- Dichomeris ligulella — Palmerworm
- Dryocampa rubicunda — Rosy Maple Moth, Green-Striped Mapleworm, Rosy Dryocampa
- Eacles imperialis — Imperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Ennomos subsignaria — Elm Spanworm Moth
- Erannis tiliaria — Linden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
- Eutrapela clemataria — Curved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Halysidota tessellaris — Banded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
- Hyalophora cecropia — Cecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
- Hypagyrtis unipunctata — One-Spotted Variant
- Hyphantria cunea — Fall Webworm
- Ianassa lignicolor — White-Streaked Prominent
- Lacosoma chiridota — Scalloped Sack-Bearer
- Lithophane antennata — Ashen Pinion
- Malacosoma disstria — Forest Tent Caterpillar
- Pandemis limitata — Three-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Perimede erransella — Gray Perimede
- Phigalia strigataria — Small Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
- Pococera asperatella — Maple Webworm
- Psaphida thaxterianus — Thaxter's Sallow
- Psilocorsis quercicella — Oak Leaftier
- Symmerista albifrons — White-Headed Prominent
- Thalera pistasciaria — Pistachio Emerald
- Trypanisma prudens
- Zale minerea — Colorful Zale
Leafhopper hosts
The INHS revision lists this plant as a host for the following Eratoneura leafhoppers. These plant-feeding insects are distinct from caterpillars and flower visitors.
- Eratoneura stannardi
- Eratoneura stephensoni
Host names follow the 2010 taxonomic revision. Its distribution records do not establish a host observation at your planting site.
Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions
What are the ideal growing conditions for Scarlet Oak?
Quercus coccinea performs best in full sun to partial sun with dry (lean sandy ridges & acidic woods) conditions. It thrives in authentic regional soil types ranging from sandy loam to well-drained clay loams.
How do I germinate and establish Scarlet Oak from seed?
Seed of Quercus coccinea has a germination code of C(60). For best results, sow seed in late fall/winter for natural outdoor freeze-thaw stratification, or cold-moist stratify in refrigeration for 30 to 60 days before spring indoor propagation.
Is Scarlet Oak deer and herbivore resistant?
Yes. Native plants adapted to Midwestern habitats naturally produce protective secondary compounds and fibrous textures that make them highly resistant to deer, rabbits, and other grazing herbivores.
When should I expect Scarlet Oak to emerge and bloom?
Established plants break dormancy in spring as soil temperatures warm, developing vigorous foliage before blooming in their seasonal window to provide vital nectar when native pollinators need it most.
Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes
Updated growing guidance: USDA Forest Service — Silvics of North America, Quercus coccinea; The Morton Arboretum — Scarlet oak. Selected facts checked 8 September 2026 and restated by Natural Communities. These sources replace the earlier NC State wording for bloom season, cultivation hardiness zones. Earlier comparison sources remain documented below.
Chicago-region assessment: Wilhelm & Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region, via Kenneth Johnson’s Universal FQA dataset (2018). Chicago-region native status is separate from U.S. nativity.
The C-value and Chicago-region native status shown here also agree with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago Region FQA dataset (2017), distributed through the USACE/ERDC fqadata package under CC0.
Flora of the Chicago Region (2017) records this taxon as native in the Chicago region.
The state list describes native botanical distribution. It does not establish county nativity or occurrence, suitability for every site, or the origin of the plants and seeds offered here. An unlisted state is not proof of absence.
Range data: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 4 June 2026 release, accessed 7 September 2026. © The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. CC BY 3.0; selected and reformatted. Kew cannot warrant the quality or accuracy of these data. This use has no Kew endorsement.
State and county nativity: The state list uses WCVP records marked native, excluding introduced, extinct and doubtful records. County nativity has not yet been verified for this listing. Presence in a county or preserve does not establish nativity there.
Documented plant associations: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service — american hornbeam. Regions and community contexts are retained in the lists above. Federal botanical facts summarized in original wording; no photographs reproduced.
Available Flora-linked Chicago assessments remain controlling. These regional ecology accounts supplement evidence not available for direct reuse from the Flora; they are not represented as Chicago Flora association lists.
Plant communities: USDA Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System (FEIS): Quercus alba; Quercus coccinea; Quercus ellipsoidalis. Selected association facts regrouped in original wording; regional scope retained. No source photographs or captions reproduced.
Caterpillar host records: Shropshire, K.J. & Tallamy, D.W. (2025), Lepidoptera of North America, Supplement 1. Contains information from this database made available under the Open Database License (ODbL 1.0). Natural Communities selected species-level records and screened source qualifications. The complete selection and transformation instructions for this page are available below under the same license.
Leafhopper records: Dmitriev, D.A. & Dietrich, C.H. (2010), Review of New World Erythroneurini IV: Eratoneura, Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 39(3):79–258. © 2010 University of Illinois Board of Trustees; CC BY 4.0. Explicit host treatments selected and regrouped by Natural Communities. PDF treatment pages: Eratoneura stannardi, Eratoneura stephensoni.
C-value source: Flora of the Chicago Region (2017), Universal FQA database 80. Matched source taxon: Quercus coccinea. Exact.
Sources checked September 5, 2026. Regional assessments and growing observations apply to their stated settings. Unverified fields are omitted; missing information does not mean an ecological relationship is absent.
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Limited botanical facts presented in Natural Communities’ own wording. Source-specific observations retain their stated scope; photographs, original descriptive prose and compiled relationship tables are excluded. Supports: Alternate Common Names; Bloom Season; Deer Resistance; Drought Tolerance; Height; Opening botanical description; Primary Native Habitats; Root Architecture & Depth; Soil Moisture Range; Soil pH Range; Spread Habit; Sun Exposure; Sunlight Exposure; Toxicity / Pet Safety; USDA Hardiness Zones.
- Universal FQA — Flora-linked Chicago database 80. Taxonomic names, family and regional nativity originally checked against Kenneth Johnson’s Flora-linked database 80 (2018), citing Wilhelm & Rericha (2017). Limited factual identification only; the C-value follows this Flora-linked database wherever an exact or documented synonym match is available. Supports: Alternate Common Names; Botanical Name; Chicago-region native status; Plant Family.
- USACE/ERDC fqadata — Chicago Region FQA 2017. Herman, B., Sliwinski, R. & Whitaker, S. (2017), Chicago Region FQA Calculator; distributed by USACE/ERDC in fqadata under CC0. Values may differ from Flora of the Chicago Region (2017). CC0 dedication. Supports: Wetland Indicator Status.
- USDA NRCS PLANTS — taxon profile and characteristics. USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, checked September 5, 2026. Numeric and categorical taxon-level facts only; no photographs or third-party guide prose reproduced. Supports: Germination Code; Salt Tolerance; Seeds per pound — USDA reference estimate.
- USDA Forest Service — FEIS, wildflower accounts and seed manual. Tirmenstein, D. A. 1991. Quercus alba. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System. Public-domain synthesis; community records retain their reported geography. Supports: Documented community associate: Quercus alba.
- Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin — Eratoneura paper. Dietrich, C.H. & Dmitriev, D.A. (2010), Review of the Species of New World Erythroneurini, IV. Genus Eratoneura. Copyright University of Illinois Board of Trustees. CC BY 4.0; selected host records summarized and reformatted. No endorsement implied. CC BY 4.0. Supports: Leafhopper host record: Eratoneura stannardi; Leafhopper host record: Eratoneura stephensoni. Source locators: page=107, page=89.
Flora rating attribution: Kenneth Johnson (2018), Flora of the Chicago Region UFQA Database, following Gerould Wilhelm and Laura Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Individual rating facts are presented with original commentary; the calculator’s software license is not treated as a license for the underlying Flora publication.
The linked Illinois plant relationships were reconciled with INHS-hosted source inventories on September 6, 2026. Same-remnant pairs were calculated from shared named-site occurrences and organized for this catalog; they are not copied narrative descriptions or proof of microsite compatibility.
Historical botanical names remain visible where used by the source. These regional accounts supplement the available Chicago Flora evidence.
Reusable research data
{"title":"Natural Communities selected host records for Quercus coccinea","source":"Shropshire, K.J. & Tallamy, D.W. (2025). Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. Supplement 1.","source_doi":"https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1261.160796.suppl1","download":"https://binary.pensoft.net/file/1478226","source_sha256":"250a11ec19c89f81374af3bc632f6897491cbe540edb09ccdaf298dc73bf9472","license":"ODbL-1.0","license_url":"https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1-0/","method":"Complete machine-readable selection and alteration file under ODbL section 4.6(b). In source worksheet UDELep May 2025, select only rows whose column A UDLepID appears in selection. Each selection entry contains [retained source plant names, selected insect IDs]. Create one record per selected ID and retained plant name; these are reported larval hosts. Scientific insect name is the first two whitespace-separated tokens of column H; common name is E; source category is AB. Other source fields are unchanged and are not part of this derived table. No other rows or host pairs are used on this page. Group Butterfly and Skipper categories together, and other categories as moths; retain exotic category labels. Display names are sorted by scientific insect name.","plant":"Quercus coccinea","scope":"Host literature synthesis; no county nativity or local insect occurrence inferred.","selection":[[["Quercus coccinea"],["200141","200282","200654","200728","200933","201028","201029","201282","201532","201682","201819","202410","202575","202582","202630","202688","202743","202812","203468","204046","204313","204360","204655","204889","205675","206189","206607","207034","207133","207218","207292","207549","207813","208112","209222","209757","209903","210267","210589","210711","211941","212390","212643","212975"]]]}
Plant Shipping & Care
Plant Shipping & Care
We want to ensure that our customers get what they want, a native backyard oasis. To do that, we need to follow a few simple guidelines and give you some information and pointers to make sure you get your plants delivered in a healthy state.
As a reminder, you will receive an email to confirm your pickup or shipping window just before the plants are ready. See Order Fulfillment below for seasonal fulfillment windows.
Choices to Receive Your Plants & Accessories
- Retail - We only offer shipping & shipping is calculated at check out*
- We do not offer retail pick up
- Wholesale - Delivery is customized based on order size and location
- Wholesale - Pickup is free
Order Fulfilment - When Your Plants or Other Items Will Be Ready
We take orders all year long and seed is shipped all year, but we only provide the plants to you in certain fulfillment windows to ensure healthy plants.
Wholesale Orders
- Shipped or are Ready For Pick Up As Requested.
Retail & Website Orders
- Seed Typically Ships Out Within One Week Of Order All Year Long
- Typically, single species flats ship when ready, sometimes as soon as early to mid-April (depends on weather) through early-October.
- Mixed species kits are batched and shipped as indicated on the product page.
- If a plant order is placed while outside of the plant fulfillment window your plants will be reserved through your payment, however, the order will not be fulfilled and shipped until the following spring. We don't want to provide you plants when they won't be happy during the cold winter months.
- Early in the spring and later in the fall certain species may be dormant or partially dormant with brown leaves, however they will return to grow healthy next growing season.
- Your order may arrive in several different shipments.
- If certain plants within an order will not be available until a later date, we may choose to hold the full order until all are ready. In certain circumstances, we may choose to send them in two separate shipments
- Fulfillment is always dependent upon plant availability. We try our best but sometimes plants do not overwinter well and perish. If a plant is on back order you will receive an email indicating the estimated shipping date. If we can not provide the plant we will first notify you and give you an option of substitution or a refund of that individual species.
- Plants are typically only packaged and shipped on Mondays to ensure they do not sit in the harsh delivery facility for extended periods of time over the weekend. You will receive a confirmation email once your delivery has been shipped and to estimate your delivery date.
- Apparel & accessories are ready typically within one to two weeks. See product page for holiday shipping.
Where We Ship
What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery
- Your plants will be packaged with the utmost care
- We will need to cut back certain plants prior to shipping. This seems counter-intuitive, however, the fewer leaves the less water the plants can lose during shipping, resulting in healthier plants for you. This also enables the plants to fit within the protective packaging and shipped safely.
Shipments
- Larger plant shipments will look similar to the picture below with a tray of your plants and a cardboard box to protect them during shipping.
What to Do With Your Plants After Receiving Your Delivery
- Unpack your order IMMEDIATELY
- Inspect for damage and report any issues immediately to Natives@NaturalCommunities.net
- Water your plants
- Install your plants as quickly as possible and water the entire garden area thoroughly
- If you cannot install your plants immediately
- Some plants may not be in a container, put them into some kind of a container such as a paper cup with loose soil until installation
- Make sure each plant is receiving the appropriate amount of light.
- Continue to water daily each morning and possibly again in the afternoon
- No additional fertilizer is needed
Seed Shipping & Care
Seed Shipping & Care
There is a minimum order requirement of $30 for each seed species. Seed ships all year and typically ships within a week of an order being placed.
We have attempted to put together some basic information regarding native seed installation, establishment, and maintenance. We hope you find it helpful. If you need further assistance on native seed establishment, please schedule a free consolation call here.
Consultation Services
Ecosystem Restoration Considerations
Native Seed Establishment Best Management Practices
Native Seed Stratification Best Management Practices
Solving a Site Problem? Get Expert Advice + Get Store Credit
Whether you're fighting severe erosion, replacing invasive species, designing a pollinator haven, or seeding large acreage, choosing the wrong species wastes time and money. Talk 1-on-1 with a restoration ecologist to map out the exact species, plug counts, or seed mixes for your soil and goals. Book a consultation and get all or a portion credited directly back to your order.