How to Identify 23 Oak Trees Species

13.08.2023 - 16:18 / gardenerspath.com / Joe Butler

How to Identify 23 Common Oak Tree Species

Often referred to as the “king of trees,” the mighty oak is held in high regard for its strength and longevity.

With hundreds of stunning species out there, there’s plenty of options for Quercus fans to choose from and adore.

But how does one tell one species from another? Which varieties are native to North America, and which might be suited to cultivating in the home landscape?

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

In my opinion, species of oak are a lot like pasta shapes.

Sure, you could slap the generic name “oak” onto a Quercus just like you could call a bowl of random noodles “pasta,” but it wouldn’t be giving due credit to that specific variety’s awesomeness.

And just like with pasta, being able to tell different types of oaks apart comes in handy.

For general information on growing oak trees, see our guide.

In this article, we’ll go over a handful of the most common oak trees, how to identify them, and what makes them so special.

After reading it, you’ll be able to tell these different species apart at a glance, which will surely impress those not in the know.

Before we dive into the individual species, let’s go over the two major groups of oaks that species are often divided into: red and white.

Species from the red or Erythrobalanus group usually have bristly and jagged leaf lobe tips, pointed buds, roughly-textured and darker-colored bark, smaller sizes at maturity, and bitter-tasting acorns that take two years to fully mature.

Alternatively, species from the white or Leucobalanus group tend to have wavy and rounded leaf lobes, rounded buds, flaky and