Quercus shumardii Autumn (08/11/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 35m
Eventual Spread: 25m
Hardiness: 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
Family: Fagaceae
Quercus shumardii is a long lived deciduous tree with a conic to ovate crown when young, maturing to a spreading crown. Its dark green leaves are obovate with up to 9 lobes, up to 20cm long and 15cm broad. Its leaves turn red/ brown in autumn before they fall. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 1m. Its bark is light gray and smooth when young and darker gray with ridges as it matures. Its flowers are monoecious, the male being light brown/ green catkins, the female are small and insignificant. Its fruit are cupped acorns which are up to 3cm across.
Quercus shumardii Autumn Leaf (08/11/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Quercus shumardii, commonly known as Shumard Oak, Spotted Oak or Shumard Red Oak is native to south east and south central USA. In its native habitat it grows in mixed forests in lowland areas which occasionally flood.
The etymological root of the binomial name Quercus is derived from the Latin name for an Oak tree, but some authorities believe it to be derived from the Celtic quer meaning ‘fine’ and cuez meaning ‘a tree’. Shumardii is named after Benjamin Franklin Shumard (1820 – 1869), an American geologist.
Quercus shumardii Bark (08/11/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
The landscape architect may find Quercus shumardii useful as a parkland tree with attractive autumn leaf color. It is also suitable for rain garden and swale planting due to its tolerance of flooded soils. Once established this tree is drought tolerant.
Ecologically, Quercus shumardii acorns are attractive to some mammals and birds.
Quercus shumardii prefers moist, deep, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Quercus shumardii requires little maintenance.
Landscape Architecture
