Scarlet oak
Quercus coccinea
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
480"–900" H × 420"–540" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DC and 24 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Large deciduous tree with a rounded to pyramidal crown and deeply lobed, bristle-tipped leaves that turn brilliant scarlet in fall. Grows on dry, sandy, or rocky upland soils and tolerates poor, acidic ground.
Wildlife value
Host plant for banded hairstreak, polyphemus moth.
Oaks support more caterpillar species than almost any other native tree genus, feeding songbirds and hosting moths and butterflies such as banded hairstreak and polyphemus moth; acorns are a major food source for jays, squirrels, and deer.
Common questions
- How much sun does Scarlet oak need?
- Scarlet oak grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Scarlet oak bloom?
- Scarlet oak blooms in April and May.
- Where is Scarlet oak native?
- Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) is native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 24 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What butterflies or moths does Scarlet oak host?
- Scarlet oak is a larval host plant for banded hairstreak and polyphemus moth.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Scarlet oak? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
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