Theres tremendous variety, and oaks have a classic beauty that feels solid and unchanging.
There are 435 species that grow all around the world, including 90 that are native to North America.
Some varieties live for hundreds or thousands of years.
Credit:Getty Images
Oak trees can be identified by their hard brown scaly bark, lobed leaves, and acorns.
Most oak trees are toxic.
Habitat
Oaks also provide habitat for birds, mammals, and pollinators.
Credit:Getty Images
In addition, mature oaks produce acorn crops regularly, which are a favorite food ofmany kinds of wildlife.
Even the smallest oaks are 30 to 40 feet tall and wide.
Because of its slow growth rate, planting an oak tree is an act of goodwill.
Credit:Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
In a fast-paced world, maybe we should plant something slow and steady.
Read on for the most common types of native oaktrees that thrive in the South.
White Oak
White oaks have attractive scaly, grayish bark and lobed leaves with rounded tips.
Credit:Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
The foliage turns a pretty mottled reddish hue in fall.
Acorns appear from September through November.
White oaks grow in a pyramid shape while young and a rounded shape as they mature.
Credit:Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
They also can live for a few hundred years.
Often grown as a shade tree, this oak adapts to many soils and isdrought tolerant.
It also lives for 200 to 300 years.
Credit:Getty Images
It grows in the central and eastern U.S. and is drought tolerant.
It takes two years for its acorns to mature.
Chestnut Oak
This oak is typically found on dry, rocky ridges, includingin the mountains.
Credit:Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University
The mature tree has deeply textured light gray bark, similar to a chestnut tree.
This central and eastern U.S. native belongs to the white oak family.
Its leaves are coarsely toothed and it has large acorns.
Credit:Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
It prefers to grow in loamy soil.
It retains its leaves until new ones leaf out.
These oaks are often seen draped inSpanish moss.
Credit:Rebekah D. Wallace, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
The glossy leaves have a unique shape with pointy lobes.
The foliage turns brilliant scarlet in fall, so its often chosen as an ornamental tree for itsautumn color.
Scarlet oak grows more quickly than some other types.
Credit:Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University
It begins producing acorns after 20 years.
Nuttall Oak
Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University
Nuttall oaks are faster-growing oaks.
They have an oval shape and good branching, making them ideal shade trees.
This oak tolerates many soil types.
It is native to wet bottomland soils on floodplains along the Gulf Coast and along theMississippi River.
Leaves have yellow to orange to red fall color, though not as intense as scarlet oaks.
Acorns mature after two years.
Overcup Oak
The overcup oak has loads of character, especially as a young tree.
It has scaly bark and dark green leaves that turn yellow-brown in fall.
It toleratesmany kinds of soilsand holds its leaves well into winter, then drops them all at once.
Its named for its acorn cap that covers most of the fruit.
It tolerates many soil types and also turns lovely red and orange hues in fall.
It also tolerates air pollution and drought for city dwellers.
Swamp chestnut oak prefers sandy soils.
American Kennel Club.Can Dogs Eat Acorns and Other Tree Nuts?
Oklahoma State University.Got oak?
