Nuttall Oak Tree

Nuttall Oak is a low-maintenance, fast-growing tree to add easy shade to your landscape. This Oak tree tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and can be planted in areas with seasonal flooding or poor drainage. The foliage is similar in appearance to the Pin Oak and turns lovely shades of orange and red when the cooler temperatures of fall arrive. Quercus texana is a perfect tree for growing in suburban or urban settings for its beauty and quick growth. 

Quercus texana is native to the swamplands and lowlands of the Gulf Coast states and the lower Mississippi River Valley. Nuttall Oaks produce heavy crops of acorns annually, which are an important food for many birds and mammals. Red Oak or Red River Oak are other common names for this tree and the lumber made from it. Nuttall Oak is named after the biologist Thomas Nuttall who wrote the first comprehensive book of North American birds.  

Nuttall Oak Tree Care

Although Nutall Oak grows well along mudflats and riverways, it only tolerates seasonal flooding. It thrives in dense clay soil and a full sun location. The tall upright and prominent leader of Nuttall Oak can reach upwards of 80 feet with a canopy spread of 35-50 feet. Choose a planting site at least 30 feet away from building foundations, sidewalks, or overhead utility lines. Trees can substantially help lower cooling costs in the summer when they are planted on the southeast side of a building. This position allows the tree to cast shade throughout the day once the tree is larger than any nearby structures. 

Staking can help trees establish a straight trunk during the first year in windy areas. The stakes should be removed after 1-2 years, when the diameter of the trunk is bigger than 1 inch. Exposure to the wind helps the tree establish a strong root system as it matures. 

Trees can be lightly pruned upon planting. Remove any crossing branches to maintain an open shape. Allow the most vertical and central branch to be the leader, and remove any competing lower branches. Nuttall Oaks naturally develop a balanced branching habit that requires little pruning. 

Fertilizing is rarely required in well-prepared planting beds. Annual mulching over the drip zone will provide nutrients to the soil and help suppress weeds until the tree is more mature. 

Nuttall Oak Tree Spacing

The canopy of Nuttall Oak can spread to 60 feet when the tree is fully mature. Allow plenty of space between the tree and surrounding buildings or overhead utility lines. A distance of 30 feet between the house and the tree will ensure that the tree will not have to be moved in the future or heavily pruned. 

Shallow-rooted plants that thrive in shady and dry locations can be grown under the tree as an understory planting. Space plants 24 inches away from the base of the tree to reduce competition from roots for nutrients and water.

Nuttall Oak Tree Information