Red oak (Quercus rubra) is not a very tall tree with a conical crown. Usually does not exceed a height of more than twenty meters. The branches are quite rare, the leaves are dark green, in the fall they turn bright red. In landscape design, it is used separately from other trees. It is worth replanting a red oak if it has not yet reached two meters. Otherwise, the plant will be very sick. The birthplace of this oak is Canada.
At the beginning of the twentieth century they began to plant it everywhere in Eastern Europe for landscaping. But this decorative tree can pose a serious threat to Aboriginal plants. After all, red oak is much more unpretentious than other plants, its seeds are quickly distributed by animals. Therefore, very soon, he began to supplant European species of trees and thereby damage forestry.
Red Oak - its origin and species features
It is also called holly, as well as Canadian, or northern. In the USA, where this oak comes from, it has great value for forestry. He is from the beech family. Photos of red oak often evoke associations with Canada.
It is somewhat like a Canadian maple. It is planted with a decorative purpose along the alleys and in the parks, individually or in groups. It can be combined well with limes, pines, maples and mountain ash. Oak is used for furniture production, for the construction of environmentally friendly houses.
Red oak. Description
This tree is very durable. In the presence of favorable conditions, it can live up to two hundred years. Grows rapidly, especially the first twenty years. The bark of a young plant is gray and smooth, the older trees are cracked, much darker in color. The trunk of old specimens reaches a meter and a half in diameter. Young shoots have a reddish color. They are not very long, they darken over the years. Red oak leaves are long (up to twenty-five centimeters) and wide. This tree blooms with short small earrings, which are collected in bunches. The fruits are spherical acorns of brown color. In some countries of Europe they are used for food. To taste, they are similar to chestnuts and, if cooked correctly, very nutritious and aromatic. In North America, animals, in particular pigs, are fed with acorns. Young trees bear sparse fruit. Red oak feels best on moderately moist soil, it loves light and reacts poorly to severe dimming. It is frost-resistant and slightly susceptible to various diseases. Needs crown formation. In cities, these trees filter the dirty air well and protect the city from noise. They can be planted even in places where there is a strong gas contamination due to transport.
How is red oak propagated?
Layers from stumps or root give rise to new trees. Breeders repeatedly planted acanthus oak to obtain an even more saturated and beautiful color of the leaves. For example, the variety "Golden" has a small height and yellow color of the crown. For planting in cities, oak needs to be grown in a nursery. Such small trees can also be purchased for a personal plot.
