Q&A for How to Identify Oak Leaves

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What do oak leaves look like?

Michael Simpson, PhD
Registered Professional Biologist
Dr. Michael Simpson (Mike) is a Registered Professional Biologist in British Columbia, Canada. He has over 20 years of experience in ecology research and professional practice in Britain and North America, with an emphasis on plants and biological diversity. Mike also specializes in science communication and providing education and technical support for ecology projects. Mike received a BSc with honors in Ecology and an MA in Society, Science, and Nature from The University of Lancaster in England as well as a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta. He has worked in British, North American, and South American ecosystems, and with First Nations communities, non-profits, government, academia, and industry.

Michael Simpson, PhD

Registered Professional Biologist

Expert Answer

The classic oak leaf has distinct lobes with rounded or pointed ends. The evergreen species can have leaves that are ‘entire’ (without lobes or teeth) or that have only faintly wavy edges.

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How about Live Oaks?

Community Answer

Live Oaks have small leaves with no lobes. The tree stays green year round, with leaves falling in the spring.

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What do southern red tree leaves look like?

Community Answer

The leaves of the southern red oak have a bell-shaped base, are 5-9" long with 3-7 deep lobes. The center lobe is considerably longer than the others and quite narrow. There are bristle tips (tiny hairs) on the end of each lobe (you will not find these bristle tips on the end of the white oak leaf).

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Is there a Willow Oak?

Community Answer

Yes, Thomas Jefferson's favorite tree. It grows fast and is disease resistant. He had them planted on both sides of Pennsylvania Ave. from the capital to the White House!

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Does an oak leaf take on a different shape as it grows from an acorn? I planted 30 acorns in cups I thought were white oak acorns, but the new leaves don't look like the mother tree leaves.

Community Answer

Young leaves are typically broader and used to absorb a lot of sunlight when young. As a tree matures, it has more leaves and a different type of leaf is produced on the tree.

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Are American oak leaves harmful to dogs?

Community Answer

Yes. Anything from an oak tree, like acorns or leaves, can poison or kill a dog.

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Which lumber is more valuable, red or white oak?

Community Answer

Red oak is more common, so white oak generally sells at a premium.

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Question

Do black oaks grow in Kansas?

Community Answer

Yes.

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Can maple trees be harmful to dogs?

Community Answer

Sugar Maples, Silver Maples, and Red Maples are not toxic to dogs, cats, or people but they are toxic to horses.

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I have an oak tree with large, long acorns, a straight, tall trunk, and fast growth. What kind of oak could this be?

Community Answer

Possibly a hybrid White Oak, such as a Bimundors Oak, which is a cross between English Oak and White Oak.

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Is there a page of oak leaf shapes from the southeast United States, with labels of species names?

Community Answer

There are several good books that identify trees of the SE US, but relying solely on leaf shape isn't always the best method, especially on oak trees, whose leaf shape can vary, even on the same tree, depending on height and sunlight availability. Native Trees of the Southeast by Kirkman/Brown/Leopold is a good book to check out.

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I have a leaf that seems to be a red oak leaf, but it is 10 inches long. Is this unusual?

Community Answer

Some oak leaves can grow up to 12 inches, though it's not terribly common.

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Which oak has spoon-shaped leaves?

Community Answer

The water oak, otherwise known as the spotted oak or possum oak has spoon-shaped leaves.

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What kind of oak tree keeps leaves all winter and sheds them in the spring?

Community Answer

Quercus alba white oak. I own one, and the dead leaves will drop in March.

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What type of oak has leaves that turn brown after changing colors in the fall and then stay on the tree until springtime?

Community Answer

This a characteristic of many different oak species in North America. The keys to identifying the type of oak are leaf shape, tree shape (growth pattern), bark, acorns, general location and specific habitat, even fall leaf color. American beech trees are known for retaining many of their leaves through the winter too.

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Is there a tree called a water oak?

Community Answer

Yes. The water oak, otherwise known as the spotted oak or possum oak, has spoon-shaped leaves.

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Which oak tree holds its leaves all winter and drops them when spring arrives?

Community Answer

A live oak or evergreen oak. The limbs will often bend to the ground on mature trees. They can be seen all over Audubon Park in New Orleans.

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Is it common for a white oak to have leaves not fall off during the winter?

Community Answer

About half do, but the remainders stick around until the spring buds pop the old growth off. That way us dummies that planted them get to rake year around.

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Do oak trees live in the tropics?

Community Answer

Yes, oak trees can grow well in temperate and tropical climates.

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In the south, in Alabama, there is a tree that is commonly called a "water oak". It has small leaves and no lobes. Is it really a live oak?

Community Answer

They are similar but are different species. Live oaks grow near the southeast coast and spread in width.

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Which are the most common oaks in the Southeast?

Community Answer

Spanish live oak has small leaves without lobes. The acorns are long and thin and drop mostly in November and December in Florida.

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