An illustrated field reference to 24 native oaks, from mountain ridges to the Sandhills and coast. Each plate shows a typical leaf, acorn and bark pattern. Drawings are stylized and not to scale; real sizes are in each description. Leaves vary a lot on one tree, so check several, and look at sun-grown leaves when you can.
White oak group
Lobes or teeth are rounded, no bristle tips
Acorns ripen in one season and are sweeter (wildlife eat them first)
Bark usually lighter gray and scaly or flaky
Red oak group
Lobes or leaf tip end in a tiny bristle
Acorns take two seasons to ripen and are bitter
Bark usually darker, with ridges or blocks
Leaf key
Tap a leaf to jump to its plate.
Group
Region
Leaf
White oak group
Red oak group
Non-native look-alike Not native to NC
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White Oak
Quercus alba
White oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellPale, shaggy, scaly bark plus evenly rounded lobes.
Leaf
5–9 in. long, 7–9 rounded, finger-like lobes. No bristle tips. Pale whitish underside.
Acorn
About ¾ in., oblong, light brown. Warty, bowl-shaped cap covers about ¼ of the nut.
Bark
Light ash-gray, broken into loose, flaky scales that often peel at the edges.
Where
Upland forests statewide; one of the most common and long-lived oaks in NC.
Post Oak
Quercus stellata
White oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellCross-shaped, sandpapery leaves on a dry site.
Leaf
4–6 in., thick and leathery. Two big squared middle lobes give a cross or Maltese-cross shape. Rough star-shaped hairs on top, fuzzy below.
Acorn
½–¾ in., oval. Warty cap covers about ⅓–½.
Bark
Gray-brown with rough ridges broken into small rectangular blocks.
Where
Dry, rocky or sandy uplands and clay ridges; mostly Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
Sand Post Oak
Quercus margarettae
White oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellA miniature, smoother-leaved post oak on sand.
Leaf
2–4 in., smaller and smoother than post oak, with 3–5 rounded, irregular lobes.
Acorn
About ½ in., oval. Warty cap covers about ⅓.
Bark
Gray, with small scaly blocks.
Where
Deep sands of the Sandhills and southern Coastal Plain; often a small tree or shrub.
Chestnut Oak
Quercus montana
White oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellThe deepest, most dramatic ridged bark of any NC oak, on rocky ridgetops.
Leaf
4–8 in., wide above the middle, with 10–16 rounded, wavy teeth along each edge (no lobes).
Acorn
Large, 1–1½ in., glossy chestnut-brown. Thin cap covers about ⅓.
Bark
Very thick and dark, with deep V-shaped furrows between hard, broad ridges.
Where
Dry, rocky ridges and slopes in the Mountains and upper Piedmont.
Swamp Chestnut Oak
Quercus michauxii
White oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellChestnut-oak-style leaves, but on pale, scaly bark in wet bottoms.
Leaf
5–9 in., broad above the middle, with large rounded teeth. Soft and pale-fuzzy underneath.
Acorn
Large, 1–1¼ in., shiny brown. Thick cap with wedge-shaped scales covers about ⅓.
Bark
Light gray and flaky, much like white oak.
Where
Bottomlands and floodplain forests, mostly Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont.
Chinkapin Oak
Quercus muehlenbergii
White oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellPointed teeth, unlike the rounded teeth of chestnut oaks.
Leaf
4–6 in., narrow, with sharp, pointed, forward-facing teeth (not rounded).
Acorn
½–¾ in., dark brown to nearly black. Thin cap covers about ½.
Bark
Light gray, thin and flaky.
Where
Uncommon; limestone or other high-pH (basic) soils in the Piedmont and Mountains.
Dwarf Chinkapin Oak
Quercus prinoides
White oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellA low, clump-forming shrub oak with chinkapin-like leaves.
Leaf
2–6 in., like a small chinkapin oak leaf, with wavy, sharp-tipped teeth.
Acorn
About ½–¾ in., oval. Cap covers about ½. Sweet, and eaten by lots of wildlife.
Bark
Light gray, thin and scaly on its small stems.
Where
Very rare in NC, on dry rocky ridges and openings, mainly in the Mountains. Some sources suggest it may be gone from the state. Usually a shrub that spreads into clumps.
Swamp White Oak
Quercus bicolor
White oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellAcorns dangling on long stalks.
Leaf
5–7 in., widest near the tip, tapering to a narrow wedge base. Shallow wavy lobes; silvery-white underneath.
Acorn
About 1 in. Held on a long stalk (1–4 in.), which is unique among NC oaks.
Bark
Gray-brown, flaky. Branch bark peels in papery curls.
Where
Rare in NC; wet bottomlands in a few northern Piedmont and Mountain counties.
Overcup Oak
Quercus lyrata
White oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellAn acorn almost swallowed by its cap.
Leaf
6–8 in., irregular lobes; the lower sinuses are very deep, making a lyre or violin shape.
Acorn
About ¾–1 in., round. The cap nearly encloses the nut, covering ¾ or more.
Bark
Gray-brown, rough, in irregular flat plates.
Where
Swamps and frequently flooded bottomlands of the Coastal Plain.
Live Oak
Quercus virginiana
White oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellGreen all winter, with huge low-spreading limbs, often draped in Spanish moss.
Leaf
Evergreen. 2–4 in., thick, leathery, dark glossy green, oval with edges rolled under.
Acorn
About 1 in., long and nearly black. Held in clusters on a stalk; cap covers about ⅓.
Bark
Dark gray-brown, in small, tight blocks.
Where
Maritime forests, coastal dunes and sounds; the southeastern coast.
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellSki-track stripes on the bark plus a big acorn in a flat beret cap.
Leaf
5–9 in., dull green, 7–11 bristle-tipped lobes. Sinuses reach only about halfway to the midrib.
Acorn
Large, about 1 in., barrel-shaped. Flat, saucer-like cap covers only about ¼.
Bark
Dark ridges with long, flat, shiny gray stripes running down them, called “ski tracks.”
Where
Moist slopes, coves and valleys in the Mountains and Piedmont.
Southern Red Oak
Quercus falcata
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellA leaf with a rounded “bell” base and a long sickle-shaped end lobe.
Leaf
5–9 in. Rounded, bell-shaped (U-shaped) base and 3–7 bristle-tipped lobes, the end lobe long and often curved like a sickle. Rusty-fuzzy underneath.
Acorn
Small, about ½ in., round. Shallow cap covers about ⅓.
Bark
Dark gray-brown, rough, with ridges and furrows.
Where
Dry upland forests; one of the most familiar oaks of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
Cherrybark Oak
Quercus pagoda
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellPagoda-shaped leaves plus cherry-like bark in a bottomland.
Leaf
5–8 in., 5–11 bristle-tipped lobes that stick out nearly at right angles, giving a pagoda shape. Wedge-shaped base; fuzzy underneath.
Acorn
About ½ in., round. Cap covers ⅓–½.
Bark
Dark and scaly, in small flaky plates that look like black cherry bark.
Where
Rich bottomlands and well-drained floodplains, Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont.
Scarlet Oak
Quercus coccinea
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellDeep, round C-shaped sinuses and brilliant scarlet fall color.
Leaf
4–7 in., glossy, 5–9 bristle-tipped lobes with very deep, C-shaped sinuses reaching most of the way to the midrib.
Acorn
½–1 in. Bowl-shaped cap covers about ½. The nut often has faint concentric rings near its tip.
Bark
Dark gray, rough ridges. Inner bark is reddish-pink.
Where
Dry upland forests and ridges, Piedmont and lower-to-middle Mountains.
Black Oak
Quercus velutina
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellDarkest bark among upland red oaks; the shaggy-rimmed cap.
Leaf
5–9 in., very variable. Shiny dark green, 5–7 bristle-tipped lobes, with tufts of fuzz in the vein angles underneath. Buds are fuzzy and gray.
Acorn
½–¾ in. Deep bowl-shaped cap covers about ½, with loose scales that form a ragged fringe at the rim.
Bark
Very dark, nearly black, in rough blocks. Inner bark is bright orange-yellow.
Where
Dry upland forests statewide.
Shumard Oak
Quercus shumardii
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellLike a deeper-cut northern red oak, but in a bottomland.
Leaf
6–8 in., glossy, 7–9 lobes with deep sinuses and many bristle tips on each lobe. Tufts of hair in vein angles underneath.
Acorn
About 1 in., oblong. Shallow, thick, saucer-like cap covers about ¼.
Bark
Gray, with lighter flat stripes on the ridges like northern red oak.
Where
Uncommon; bottomlands and slopes on high-pH (basic) soils, Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
Pin Oak
Quercus palustris
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellDeep-cut leaves like scarlet oak, but on a wet site, with lower limbs that droop down.
Leaf
3–6 in., smooth and glossy, 5–7 bristle-tipped lobes with very deep, rounded sinuses. Tufts of hair in vein angles underneath.
Acorn
Small, about ½ in., round, often striped. Very shallow, saucer-like cap covers about ¼.
Bark
Smooth gray when young, later shallowly ridged, much like willow oak.
Where
Rare in the wild in NC, in bottomlands and swamps of the northern half of the Piedmont. Much more often seen planted as a street tree.
Water Oak
Quercus nigra
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellSmall spoon- or duck-foot-shaped leaves.
Leaf
2–4 in., spoon-shaped: narrow at the base and wide near the tip, which may have 3 shallow lobes. Holds leaves late into winter.
Acorn
About ½ in., round, nearly black. Shallow cap covers about ¼.
Bark
Smooth and gray when young, becoming rough with dark ridges.
Where
Very common in yards, fields, forests and bottomlands of the Coastal Plain and Piedmont.
Willow Oak
Quercus phellos
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellWillow-like leaves, but it has acorns.
Leaf
2–5 in., long and narrow like a willow, with smooth edges and a single bristle at the tip.
Acorn
Small, about ½ in., round. Very shallow cap.
Bark
Smooth gray when young, becoming rough with irregular ridges.
Where
Bottomlands statewide except high mountains; a favorite street tree in NC cities.
Laurel Oak
Quercus laurifolia / Q. hemisphaerica
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellShiny, laurel-like leaves that stay green into winter.
Leaf
3–5 in., glossy, oblong-oval with smooth edges; wider than willow oak. Semi-evergreen.
Acorn
About ½ in., dark brown. Shallow cap covers about ¼.
Bark
Dark gray, smooth for many years, then ridged.
Where
Coastal Plain; swamp laurel oak in wet bottoms, Darlington (sand laurel) oak on drier sands.
Blackjack Oak
Quercus marilandica
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellClub-shaped leaves and coal-black blocky bark.
Leaf
4–8 in., thick and leathery. Bell- or club-shaped: wide at the tip with 3 shallow bristle-tipped lobes. Rusty-fuzzy underneath.
Acorn
About ¾ in. Cap with loose, reddish-brown scales covers about ½.
Bark
Nearly black, cut into square blocks like alligator hide.
Where
Dry, poor, sandy or clay soils; ridges and Sandhills; usually a small tree.
Sandhills and dry sandy ridges of the Coastal Plain; small tree.
Turkey Oak
Quercus laevis
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellTurkey-foot leaves held on edge in the Sandhills.
Leaf
4–8 in., deeply cut into 3–5 narrow, spreading lobes like a turkey's foot. Leaves twist on their stalks to stand vertically.
Acorn
About 1 in. The cap's scales roll over its rim and into the inside.
Bark
Dark gray, rough and furrowed. Inner bark is reddish.
Where
Sandhills and longleaf pine–wiregrass sands.
Bear Oak
Quercus ilicifolia
Red oak group
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellA shrubby oak on windswept mountain rock.
Leaf
2–4 in., small, with 3–7 shallow bristle-tipped lobes; whitish and fuzzy underneath.
Acorn
About ½ in., often striped. Cap covers about ½.
Bark
Smooth gray-brown on thin stems.
Where
Rare; high-elevation rocky summits, ridges and balds in the Mountains; a thicket-forming shrub.
Sawtooth Oak
Quercus acutissima
Non-native · East Asia
LeafAcornBark
Quick tellChestnut-like leaves with bristle-tipped teeth plus a shaggy, hairy-looking acorn cap. No native NC oak has both.
Leaf
3–7 in., long and narrow like a chestnut leaf. Glossy, with many evenly spaced teeth, each ending in a fine hair-like bristle. Dead leaves often hang on into winter.
Acorn
About 1 in., round. The cap covers about ⅔ and is covered in long, curling, shaggy scales.
Bark
Gray-brown, with corky ridges and deep furrows.
Where
Native to East Asia (China, Korea, Japan). Planted across NC for wildlife food plots and as a street tree, and now escaping into woods and fields. It's the only non-native oak in the state.
Not shown
A few other oaks with very limited NC records (such as myrtle oak and shingle oak) are left out. Oaks hybridize often, especially in the red oak group, so some trees won't match any plate cleanly.
Look-alike to know
Sawtooth oak, the pink card above, is from East Asia and is the one non-native oak in NC. It's widely planted and spreading, so check for it before assuming an oak is native.