Tree of the Week: Nuttall Oak (Quercus texana)

Our tree of the week is a large, healthy, maturing Nuttall oak (Quercus texana). This tree was grown especially for the arboretum collection by Professor Ed Leuck. In 1995, he collected seeds from a local specimen, found in Betty Virginia Park. In October of the following year, Professor Leuck planted a seedling in the grounds of the arboretum. Today, the tree is growing at the edge of the Fitness Center Lawn. You wouldn't know by looking at it, but in March 1999 a mischievous (or even vandalous) person broke the top of the tree.

The Nuttall oak, with its rounded crown, is pictured center, with Rotary Hall in the background.

We are approaching mid-November and the leaves of the Nuttall Oak are still mostly green with only a little red and orange on the tips. Last year, it wasn't until the beginning of December that this particular tree stunned us with its exuberant orange-red leaves. That display is documented here.

Leaves and buds alternate along the branchlet.

Terminal buds of the Nuttall Oak

Nuttall oaks are in the red-oak group. Leaves are lobed and pointy. This leaf measures about 5 inches in length.

Light-green underneath

This 22-year-old Nuttall oak is in production mode.

Nuttall acorn detail

Plentiful acorns on the Fitness Center lawn.

Grouping of Nuttall acorns

Nuttall acorns, with cap, measure approximately 1 inch in length.

This is a Nuttall acorn pictured with a Shumard acorn. They are similar in appearance. Check out the Shumard acorns here.

Shumard acorns (left) and Nuttall acorns (right)

Three Shumard acorns are pictured left. They are larger and boxier than the three Nuttall acorns pictured right.

You can see older pictures of this tree here.
Another Nuttall Oak was previously featured on the arboretum blog. You can find that post here.