How can I tell what kind of oak tree I have?

Oaks (Quercus) all share lobed or toothed leaves and acorns, but there are dozens of species. The first and most useful split is into two big groups: the red oak group and the white oak group.

Red oak group: - Leaf lobes end in pointed tips with tiny bristles (a hair at each point) - Acorns take 2 years to mature and are usually bitter - Inner bark often reddish; bark tends to have shiny vertical "ski trail" streaks - Examples: northern red oak, pin oak, black oak, scarlet oak, shingle oak (note: shingle oak has unlobed leaves but is still red group)

White oak group: - Leaf lobes are rounded, with no bristle tips - Acorns mature in 1 year and are sweeter (wildlife favorites) - Bark often light gray and scaly/flaky - Examples: white oak, bur oak, swamp white oak, chestnut oak, post oak

Then narrow by details:

• Leaf shape: deep vs. shallow sinuses, number of lobes, size
• Acorn cap: bur oak has a fringed, mossy cap; pin oak has a thin saucer cap
• Bark texture and growth habit
• Habitat: swamp white oak in wet sites; post oak on dry ridges

Pro tip: Take clear photos of a leaf, the bark, an acorn, and the whole tree — these four together make ID much easier.

Use our Tree ID Guide for step-by-step help, and see the Plant Database for species pages.