I like oak trees. I love their shape, the way they grow, the way they look. I love their smell. And I love that they can be found all over the place, from Brooklyn to Paris to Italy to New England to California, and everywhere in between- check out some pictures of my favorite types of oak trees down the page!

An Oak tree is also known as the Quercus species, bearing the acorn as its fruit. These trees are known to live for hundreds of years and have been a sacred symbol for many different myths and believe dating back to ancient Roman and Greek civilizations.

During these times, they looked upon this type of tree for strength, wisdom, power, and even the hopes of gaining great knowledge. There are many different species of Oak trees that can be located from North America, to China, and even in North Africa.

There are roughly 90 different species known in America, and 160 known to Mexico. North America holds the largest amount of Oak trees, with China having the second-largest diversity of these trees containing around 100 different species. While some are as tall as 100 feet, they can also be as small as a shrub.

Currently, this plant, from its leaves and bark to even its acorns, is used for aging things like wine, brandy, and even beer. It has been commonly used to age these types of drinks in Oak barrels, mainly due to the distinct taste the wood carries. This type of tree is also a great source of timber and dye, for making furniture, flooring, and even certain musical instruments.

Care

Growing and caring for this kind of plant is fairly easy and is considered low maintenance. The most important factors to make sure we pay attention to are fertilization, pruning, and watering. Oak trees prefer to have full sun along with well-drained soil. A fully matured tree can intake around 50 gallons of water from the soil.

You can tell if your tree does not have enough water due to its leaves turning yellow, and their growth slowing dramatically. You should not water them more than once a month but can give them a good soak in the spring if you had a more dry winter. Fertilization is also very important as it helps the young ones grow and the mature ones stay healthy.

You should fertilize them in the spring or late summer so there is plenty of water to saturate all the nutrients into the root system. The deciduous ones benefit from annual pruning as it helps get rid of diseased or dead branches, and also aids in bud development. Although, you should keep in mind that pruning slows down growth and over-pruning can result in damage to the tree (Source). 

21+ Varieties Of Oak Trees

1. White Oak (Quercus Alba)

White Oak (Quercus Alba)
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This type is one of the most known in the Oak family. They tend to grow very slowly but at full maturity can reach anywhere from 80 to 150 feet. As it grows tall, it also grows very wide, providing an ample amount of shade during the summer months. Despite the name, this type of tree has a gray color bark.

Its leaves are also different than the other types of its kind which are more lobed rather than pointed with sharp bristles. To most native cultures, this type of bark is used for medicinal purposes such as fever, colds, and arthritis. Outside of its medical uses, it is a great hardwood for flooring, furniture, and even to make boats.

2. Black Oak (Quercus Velutina)

Black Oak (Quercus Velutina)
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This Black Oak type of species is known to be in the Red Oak family and can be found in central North America. There are a few little tales that can help you identify this type of tree. One is its bark, which on the backside is mostly black, with deep ridges that look like cracks. This tree can handle more dryer climates than its cousins and thrives within full sun.

At full maturity, they stand between 65 to 80 feet tall and are great for providing shade but are difficult to retransplant due to their roots being so long. They are known to have defects within its wood, but is still used for a fence post or even fuel.

3. Pin Oak (Quercus Palustris)

Pin Oak (Quercus Palustris)
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Although the size of this Pink Oak tree is not as big as others, it is known to be more used in landscaping due to its ability to withstand poor soil as well as pollution. It will be a great addition to anyone urban garden. The maturity size is anywhere between 59 and 72 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet.

This type of plant grows at a more rapid pace but does not live quite as long. They provide great shade, although it tends to grow in a pyramid-like manner. The branches on the middle trunk area grow out at a 90-degree angle. The upper branches grow straight up and the lower branches tend to grow downward. The natives have also used this bark to make a drink to treat intestinal issues.

4. English Oak (Quercus Robur)

English Oak (Quercus Robur)
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Of course, if you haven’t thought it already, the English Oak is known to England as well as western Asia. These trees are known to grow between 65 feet all the way to 130 feet tall. Even though they can be great in size, as they age they tend to become shorter, widening their trunk in order to live longer. They prefer full sun but can withstand having some shade as well. This tree is of great importance to wildlife as many insects live on their acorns, leaves, and buds

5. Southern Live Oak (Quercus Virginiana)

Southern Live Oak (Quercus Virginiana)
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Although most tend to call this tree Live Oak, Southern Live Oak is mostly known in what called the “Old South”. This tree can grow as high as 80 feet but what’s amazing about this specific species is that its branches can grow as long as 150 feet along the ground.

Most of the time they retain all their leaves all the way up until around spring when new leaves grow in, which all old leaves will fall off immediately. This wood is hard, heavy, and can be difficult to work with. It is known to be very sturdy and used to make the body of a boat, due to its ability to withstand cannon fire.

6. Sawtooth Oak (Quercus Acutissima)

Sawtooth Oak (Quercus Acutissima)
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This type of tree is most known to be native to Asian countries such as Chines, Japan, and even the Himalayas. It is known to be a medium-sized tree, growing as tall as 98 feet high. It is a great food source for wildlife like birds and squirrels as it normally bears a great number of acorns. The bark is a darker gray and its leaves are long, somewhat skinny with sawtooth-like teeth along the edges. This type of wood grows at a faster rate but is known to crack and split so it is mainly used for fencing.

7. Cherrybark Oak (Quercus Pagoda)

Cherrybark Oak (Quercus Pagoda)
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This Cherrybark species probably one of the most valued types of Red Oak in the southern united states. They grow normally within more moist areas. This tree grows to great heights of 130 feet tall and provides you with great shade. Many wildlife uses acorns as part of their main source of food. The wood is regarded as some of the best timber you can get.

With it being very strong and sturdy, it is used for many things like general construction, furniture, and even interior finishing. It got its name due to the bark being very similar to the Cherry Trees bark, being dark gray with scaley bark and narrow ridges.

8. Water Oak Tree (Quercus Nigra)

Water Oak Tree (Quercus Nigra)
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Water Oak Trees adapt to very wet, swampy-like areas. They grow to be about 100 feet tall and the trunk being about 3 feet in diameter. The leaves are known to stay on until midwinter and can very in shape although it is mainly rounded on top and narrow at the bottom. Compared to most other Oak trees, this one has a much less life span living only between 60 and 80 years old. This wood has been used as timber as well as fuel for a fire since around the 17th century.

9. Scarlet Oak (Quercus Coccinea)

Scarlet Oak (Quercus Coccinea)
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This is a medium to large type of tree growing between 60 and 100 feet. The leaves are a really nice green color, long, and has around 7 lobes to it. It is known to be planted for ornimental uses due to its bright color changes in the fall season. It is known to be an important canopy type species with its bark having a more broad scaly type ridges.

10. Japanees Evergreen Oak (Quercus Acuta)

Japanees Evergreen Oak (Quercus Acuta)
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This is mostly native to Asian countries like Japan, China and Taiwan. It was introduced to the United States in the late 18th century. Although you can grow this plant in either full sun or shaded, you will have to take proper care of this tree depending on full sun or not. This tree is quite small compared to most Oak species, getting only as tall as around 40 feet.

11. Oregon Oak (Quercus Garryana)

Oregon Oak (Quercus Garryana)
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As you would expect, bases off the name, this tree is home within the Northwestern parts of the United States. It normally grows around a height of 50 and 90 feet, although there has been some that have gotten up to 120 feet. They are known to be fire resistant, with fires whos intensity is low. Due to this type of wood cracking and warping it normally has no commercial value, although some have experimented in using its wood to age wine.

12. Laurel Oak (Quercus Laurifolia)

Laurel Oak (Quercus Laurifolia)
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A medium sized semi-evergreen in the Oak family,native to south-central United States. The growth of this tree matures around 50 years old and will grow to be 60 to 80 feet in height. The leaves tend to be long and broad and normally fall when the new leaves start coming in the spring. It is typically used for making paper although most of the time it is planted as an ornimental tree.

13. Willow Oak (Quercus Phellos)

Willow Oak (Quercus Phellos)
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This type of Oak tree can be identified by its more rough gray bark, that as it matures, grows narrow fissures. It is known to be a medium sized tree growing to a height of around 65-100 feet. You can identify this tree by its leaves, which are smooth, long and narrow without lobes or teeth. This type of wood is normally used for paper production but will also be sold for timber labeled Red Oak.

14. Post Oak (Quercus Stellata)

Post Oak (Quercus Stellata)
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This species is native to North America and is known to be within the White Oak family. It is normally on the smaller side of trees growing between 30 to 50 feet in height. You can identify this tree rather quickly by its leave, in which only have slight lobes and tent to look like its a shape of a cross. It is known to grow is more dry locations being able to withstand drought and even fires. This uses for this type of wood is is many including railroad ties, timber, flooring, and even stiars.

15. Sessile Oak (Quercus Petraea)

Sessile Oak (Quercus Petraea)
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Sessile Oak is one of the more larger species of White Oak getting as tall as 66 to 130 feet. The bark is a smooth gray that, with maturity, becomes fissured. The leaves for this tree are only slightly lobes with what looks like teeth around it. It is known to be used to build ships as well as cabinets and barrel staves, though it can also be used for rood beams and fence constructions.

16. Chestnut Oak (Cuercus Montana)

Chestnut Oak (Cuercus Montana)
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The Chestnut can be easily identified by its gray-brown bark, which tends to have massive ridges within it. They are a medium sized tree growing anywhere between 60 to 70 feet tall. The leaves can be identified by its bristle like tooth edges with no lobes.The branches tend to be low and not very straight which in turn makes it hard to be used for most things. Within the late 19th century, due to its ability to be rot proof, it has been used as railroad ties and fencing.

17. Holm Oak (Quercus Ilex)

Holm Oak (Quercus Ilex)
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This is an evergreen species that is native to the Mediterranean region of the world. It can reach to a favorable size of 70 to 90 feet tall. The leaves are oblong and glossy with no lobes within it. The bark is a gray color but with more fine fissures making it look like there are cracks throughout it. This wood has been known to be hard and tough and has been used as pillars, tools, and even wagons.

I know I get a lot of flack from people for my love of trees, but they’re my absolute favorite. They’re such an important part of the ecosystem and I absolutely adore them. I have an oak tree in my yard that produces more than any other plant in my yard. Last year, I wrote about how I couldn’t believe that the leaves were turning colors already!

When I was growing up, my parents had an oak tree in our backyard. No one really knew what it was, but if you talked to my mom or dad about it, they would always tell you that it was “born from a cross between an oak tree and a walnut tree”. I’ve always been interested in the fact that trees grow and reproduce all on their own and at a very slow pace. They don’t need to be fertilized or watered every week for every day of their lifespan.

List Of All Oak Trees

We listed out all of the oak tree varieties out there below- using their Latin scientific names: 

  1. acerifolia
  2. acuta
     
  3. acutissima
  4. agrifolia
  5. agrifolia var. agrifolia
  6. agrifolia var. oxyadenia
  7. ajoensis
  8. alba
  9. albicaulis
  10. aliena
  11. alnifolia
  12. argentata
  13. argyrotricha
  14. arizonica
  15. arkansana
  16. augustinii
  17. austrina
  18. austrocochinchinensis
  19. austroglauca
  20. bella
  21. berberidifolia
  22. bicolor
  23. blakei
  24. boyntonii
  25. brantii
  26. buckleyi
  27. calliprinos
  28. camusiae
  29. canariensis
  30. byi
  31. menensis
  32. castanea
  33. castaneifolia
  34. cedrosensis
  35. cerris
  36. championii
  37. chapensis
  38. chapmanii
  39. chenii
  40. chevalieri
  41. chihuahuensis
  42. chingsiensis
  43. chrysolepis
  44. chrysolepis var. chrysolepis
  45. chrysolepis var. nana
  46. chungii
  47. coccifera
  48. cocciferoides
  49. cocciferoides var. cocciferoides
  50. cocciferoides var. taliensis
  51. coccinea
  52. coccinea var. coccinea
  53. coccinea var. tuberculata
  54. copeyensis
  55. cornelius-mulleri
  56. costaricensis
  57. cualensis
  58. cubana
  59. daimingshanensis
  60. dalechampii
  61. delavayi
  62. delicatula
  63. dentata
  64. depressa
  65. depressipes
  66. deserticola
  67. dilatata
  68. dinghuensis
  69. disciformis
  70. douglasii
  71. dumosa
  72. dumosa var. dumosa
  73. dumosa var. elegantula
  74. durata
  75. durata var. durata
  76. durata var. gabrielensis
  77. edithiae
  78. eduardii
  79. elevaticostata
  80. ellipsoidalis
  81. emoryi
  82. engelmannii
  83. faginea
  84. falcata
  85. fleuryi
  86. frainetto
  87. furuhjelmi
  88. fusiformis
  89. gambelii
  90. gambelii var. bonina
  91. gambelii var. gambelii
  92. gambleana
  93. garryana
  94. garryana  var. fruticosa
  95. garryana  var. garryana
  96. garryana  var. semota
  97. gemelliflora
  98. geminata
  99. georgiana
  100. gilva
  101. glauca
  102. glaucoides
  103. graciliformis
  104. gravesii
  105. grisea
  106. havardii
  107. havardii var. havardii
  108. havardii var. tuckeri
  109. helferiana
  110. hemisphaerica
  111. hemisphaerica var. hemisphaerica
  112. hemisphaerica var. maritima
  113. hinckleyi
  114. hintoniorum
  115. hirtifolia
  116. hondae
  117. hondurensis
  118. hui
  119. humboldtii
  120. hypoleucoides
  121. hypophaea
  122. hypoxantha
  123. ilex
  124. ilicifolia
  125. iltisii
  126. imbricaria
  127. incana
  128. infectoria
  129. inopina
  130. insignis
  131. intricata
  132. jenseniana
  133. jinpinensis
  134. john-tuckeri
  135. kelloggii
  136. kerrii
  137. kiukiangensis
  138. kouangsiensis
  139. laceyi
  140. laevis
  141. lamellosa
  142. lanata
  143. laurifolia
  144. laurina
  145. leucotrichophora
  146. libani
  147. lineata
  148. litoralis
  149. litseoides
  150. lobata
  151. lobbii
  152. longinux
  153. lowii
  154. lungmaiensis
  155. lusitanica
  156. lyrata
  157. macranthera
  158. macranthera ssp. macranthera
  159. macranthera ssp. syspirensis
  160. macrocarpa
  161. macrocarpa var. depressa
  162. macrocarpa var. macrocarpa
  163. macrolepis
  164. margarettae
  165. marilandica
  166. marilandica var. ashei
  167. marilandica var. marilandica
  168. merrillii
  169. michauxii
  170. minima
  171. mohriana
  172. mongolica
  173. morii
  174. motuoensis
  175. muehlenbergii
  176. tinervis
  177. sinifolia
  178. tifolia
  179. lecta
  180. ra
  181. gangensis
  182. ongifolia
  183. vatifolia
  184. ethorpensis
  185. oides
  186. odon
  187. hyloma
  188. ifica
  189. oda
  190. meri
  191. ustris
  192. vula
  193. vula var. parvula
  194. vula var. shrevei
  195. vula var. tamalpaisensis
  196. elliformis
  197. uncularis
  198. tacycla
  199. raea
  200. nera
  201. llos
  202. lanei
  203. ymorpha
  204. tica
  205. noides
  206. nus
  207. escens
  208. ila
  209. gens
  210. enaica
  211. urahuensis 
  212. sophylla
  213. ur
  214. ur ssp. brutia
  215. ur ssp. imeretina
  216. ur ssp. pedunculiflora
  217. ur ssp. robur
  218. usta
  219. ra
  220. ra var. ambigua
  221. ra var. rubra
  222. osa
  223. leriana
  224. icifolia
  225. icina
  226. otifolia
  227. avanensis
  228. ottkyana
  229. ecarpifolia
  230. iserrata
  231. rata
  232. rata ssp. mongolicoides
  233. rata ssp. serrata
  234. silifolia
  235. mardii
  236. mardii var. schneckii
  237. mardii var. shumardii
  238. mardii var. stenocarpa
  239. hourensis
  240. ilis
  241. uata
  242. uata var. breviloba
  243. uata var. sinuata
  244. llata
  245. nophylloides
  246. wardiana
  247. er
  248. hinoidea
  249. sericea
  250. atrana
  251. difolia
  252. ana
  253. relii
  254. entella
  255. entosinervis
  256. meyi
  257. ubiana
  258. jana
  259. binella
  260. ciniifolia
  261. iabilis
  262. eyana
  263. utina
  264. inea
  265. giniana
  266. canica
  267. lizeni
  268. lizeni var. frutescens
  269. lizeni var. wislizeni
  270. apensis
  271. thotricha
  272. gjiangensis