Of the many North American oak species introduced, Red Oak is most at home in warmer areas of north-west Europe. Introduced c.1724.

Native to eastern North America. Considered invasive in some countries of north-west Europe. Most frequent in southern England and Wales, but still uncommonly naturalised.

Monoecious. Wind-pollinated. Dispersed by birds and small mammals.

Moderately tall (30m), with straight branches radiating outwards. Bark grey-brown, smooth, developing ridges with distinctive shiny central stripes. Twigs grey, soon glabrous; buds small, pointed, hairy-tipped. Autumn colour can be attractive orange-red but is climate-dependent. Leaves large (20cm), oval or obovate, with 3-5 pointed, unevenly toothed lobes, dark green and glabrous above, matt pale below, on long red petioles (3-5cm). Fruit a small broad acorn (2cm) in a shallow cupule.

Grows well on well-drained sandy soils. Moderate to high drought resistance. Quite shade-tolerant. Tendency to fork, so needs to be pruned for timber. Can be coppiced. Might prove adaptable to future growing conditions under a warming climate.

No notable associations where introduced.

Highly susceptible to bark-stripping by Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis); also to Phytophthora infection.

Its timber is inferior to native oaks, being less attractive and durable, but is used in indoor joinery and, when treated, for outdoor furniture. It is unsuitable for cooperage (such as whisky barrels) because its wood lacks tyloses. It is an ornamental tree for autumn foliage.