southern red oak
Quercus falcata
A genus split is not a placement verdict.
Is this one for your yard?
Enter your ZIP to see whether this is legal to plant in your state, and whether it survives your winter.
Yes, southern red oak is rated fire resistant, with all six assessments favoring it for fire-conscious landscaping.
The USDA Forest Service with state Firewise programs gives southern red oak the most favorable point on its four-level scale. NC State University and NC Cooperative Extension rate it low in flammability, as does current NC State Extension guidance. On Ohio State University Extension’s five-point flammability scale, southern red oak receives L, a recommended rating one step above VL. Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Tech give it L on a three-point scale, where L is recommended.
The scales are not interchangeable, but they reach the same practical conclusion. The Forest Service program uses a Firewise rating, the university sources grade flammability, and each places southern red oak on the recommended side. NC State’s live Plant Toolbox also tags the species as low flammability. Because that system does not document who assigned its values, the tag corroborates the authored extension and Firewise assessments rather than carrying the conclusion alone.
Southern red oak’s mature height is about 100 feet, and it is hardy to USDA zone 6a. It needs full sun and moderate water, while Ohio and Virginia both note its preference for drier soils. Ohio also advises using a northern seed source. For a homeowner choosing a tree with fire-conscious landscaping in mind, the published assessments give southern red oak a clear and consistent recommendation.
- Form
- tree
- Mature height
- ~100 ft
- Light
- Full sun
- Water need
- moderate
- Rated in
- Arkansas; Global; NC; North Carolina +4