Difference Between Black and Red Oak

Both the Black Oak and Red Oak grow up to 80 feet tall. The Black Oak has leaves with 7 to 9 lobes while the Red Oak has leaves with 7 to 11 lobes. The green leaves of the Black Oak turn red during the fall season so as the Red Oak. But the Red Oak's leaves can also become yellow or brown during the fall season.

1. How can you tell the difference between red and black oak?
2. Is Black Oak A red oak?
3. How do you identify black oak?
4. What is Black Oak good for?
5. How can you tell a red oak north?
6. Why are red oaks called Red?
7. Is Black Oak valuable?
8. Is Black Oak good firewood?
9. Is there a black oak?
10. How fast do black oaks grow?
11. What color is black oak?
12. What is the strongest oak wood?

How can you tell the difference between red and black oak?

Re: red versus black oak identification

black oak: Black oak will have rough bark on the lower 2/3 of the tree and smoother bark above that. Red oak will have rough bark on the lower 1/3 only. Red oak will also have narrow flat or slightly indented striations in the bark.

Is Black Oak A red oak?

Black oak (Quercus velutina) is a member of the broad red oak group (red, black, blackjack, pin, northern pin, and shingle). This group is characterized by having bristles or points on the leaf lobes and acorns which mature in two growing seasons and sprout in the spring after maturity.

How do you identify black oak?

It is fairly homogeneous and dark in color. Another distinctive characteristic of black oak is that the inner bark is bright yellow or yellow orange, distinguishing it from the other oaks, whose inner bark is more bland. Black Oak Bark: Notice the bark is dark in color and has dark ridges that run up the tree.

What is Black Oak good for?

Black oak wood often has defects, so the wood is not used as much as some of the other oaks. Native Americans used black oak to treat a wide variety of ailments including indigestion, chills, fevers, respiratory problems, sore eyes, and more. It was also used as an antiseptic and an emetic (to induce vomiting).

How can you tell a red oak north?

The easiest way to identify a red oak tree is by its bark. In trees larger than a foot or so in diameter, the bark will appear to have vertical stripes of smooth, shiny, silver-ish bark alternating with rough dark "cracks" that develop as the tree grows.

Why are red oaks called Red?

Quercus rubra, the northern red oak, is an oak tree in the red oak group (Quercus section Lobatae). It is a native of North America, in the eastern and central United States and southeast and south-central Canada. ... Often simply called red oak, northern red oak is so named to distinguish it from southern red oak (Q.

Is Black Oak valuable?

There is a California black oak as well. ... But curiously, they say “the wood, commercially valuable for furniture and flooring, is sold as red oak.” So, it's possible that I've used a whole bunch of black oak after all, sold as good old, reliable red.

Is Black Oak good firewood?

California Black Oak is a hardwood that makes excellent firewood that burns hot and produces a long lasting bed of coals. As with most oaks the downside is they can produce a lot of ash but this one produces less than many others and is considered by many to be superior to white oak for firewood.

Is there a black oak?

The black oak's common name refers to its nearly black bark. This oak's inner bark, however, is yellow or deep orange and is used to make a yellow dye called quercitron. Although the native black oak is most frequently found in dry, poor areas, it prefers rich soil.

How fast do black oaks grow?

Average diameter growth of black oak for a range of ages, sites, and stand conditions in the Central States was about 5 min (0.2 in) per year for 10 years. In West Virginia, dominant black oaks grew faster in diameter than scarlet, chestnut, and white oaks but slower than northern red oak (6).

What color is black oak?

Color/Appearance: Has a light to medium reddish-brown color, though there can be a fair amount of variation in color. Conversely, White Oak tends to be slightly more olive-colored, but is by no means a reliable method of determining the type of oak.

What is the strongest oak wood?

Common red oak has a Janka hardness of 1220 lbf, meaning it takes 1220 pounds of force to drive the steel ball halfway into the wood. For reference, soft balsa wood requires only 67 lbf and the hardest wood in the world, Australian Buloke, has a Janka hardness of 5060 lbf.