Oak trees are one of the most widely recognized tree species due to their iconic lobed leaves With over 90 species of oak native to North America and 600 worldwide, there is immense diversity in oak leaf shapes, textures, sizes and colors But what do oak leaves actually look like?
In this complete guide, we’ll survey the major types of oak leaves to get an overview of their diversity. We’ll look at key differences between red and white oak groups, evergreen vs deciduous oaks, and provide descriptions and photos of 13 major oak species’ leaves.
The Two Main Groups of Oak Leaves
The first step in identifying oak leaves is separating them into two broad categories – red oaks and white oaks,
Red Oaks
Red oaks have pointed lobe tips and tiny bristles at the end of their leaves. The veins stretch all the way to the lobe tips.
White Oaks
White oaks have rounded lobe tips without bristles. Their veins don’t reach the tips.
This simple distinction already divides oaks in half! Now let’s look at some specific examples.
Examples of Red Oak Leaves
Pin Oak Leaves
The pin oak is a popular urban landscaping tree. Its leaves are:
- Deeply lobed with 5-7 points
- Narrow overall shape
- Bright green
- Turn scarlet red in fall
Willow Oak Leaves
Willow oak is named for its leaves’ resemblance to willow leaves. They are:
- Unlobed, long and narrow
- Smooth margins
- Pointed tips
- Green above, paler below
Black Oak Leaves
The black oak has classic oak leaf features:
- 5-7 bristle tipped lobes
- Deep, rounded indentations
- Bluish-green color
Scarlet Oak Leaves
Scarlet oak is named for its bright red fall colors. Its leaves are:
- Elliptical with deep, C-shaped indentations
- 7 lobes, each with 3-7 bristles
- 6 inches long
Examples of White Oak Leaves
White Oak Leaves
The white oak is one of the most common oaks. Its leaves are:
- 5-9 inches long
- 7-9 rounded, finger-like lobes
- Bright green above, paler below
Swamp White Oak Leaves
The swamp white oak grows in wetlands. It has:
- 5-7 rounded lobes
- Dark green above, silvery white below
- Up to 7 inches long
Bur Oak Leaves
The bur oak has huge leaves—some of the largest of all oak species—with two deep sinuses in the middle. They have:
- Deep central lobes
- Irregular, rounded margins
- Green above, gray-green below
Post Oak Leaves
The post oak has a distinctive cross shape. Its leaves have:
- 5 lobes, 2 opposite each other
- Thick, leathery texture
- Dark green above, fuzzy yellow below
Evergreen Oak Leaves
Evergreen oaks keep their leaves year-round. Their leaves tend to be:
- Smaller and thicker
- Smooth edged without lobes
- Very durable
So next time you come across an unknown oak leaf, take a close look and see if you can identify it! With practice, you’ll be able to easily distinguish the many types of oak leaves.
Oak Leaves: An Introduction
FAQ
How do I identify an oak tree by its leaves?
The classic oak leaf has distinct lobes with rounded or pointed ends. The evergreen species can have leaves that are ‘entire’ (without lobes or teeth) or that have only faintly wavy edges.
What tree is mistaken for an oak tree?
How Can I Tell Oak Trees from Other Trees? Oak trees are often mistaken for ash trees or even beech trees.
What does a live oak leaf look like?
The leaves are usually narrow to a long oval and are stiff. The upper leaf is shiny and dark green and the underside is normally a light green.
How to tell the difference between oak and maple?
What’s the main difference between oak and maple? Oak is a dense hardwood with open grain patterns, whereas maple has smooth, clean grain patterns. These differences affect the appearance of oak and maple planks, as well as their overall performance in various applications.
What do lobes on oak trees look like?
Lobed: These leaves have distinct rounded or pointed lobes extending from the central vein. Lobed leaves are characteristic of many oak species and often feature deep indentations between the lobes. Oblong: Oblong-shaped leaves are elongated with parallel sides and rounded tips. They lack pronounced lobes but may have wavy margins.
What does a live oak tree look like?
Oak tree leaves: Canyon live oak tree has glossy, leathery lanceolate leaves that are smooth or have spiny teeth along the edges, especially on young branches. The evergreen leaves measure 1” – 3” (2.5 – 8 cm) long and have a distinctive pointed tip and blunt base. Texas red oak (Quercus buckleyi) young trees.
What are the characteristic features of an oak leaf?
The characteristic features in an oak leaf are its lobes and sinuses (space between the lobes). The number of lobes may be from 5 up to 20 in a leaf. The leaves may have a lobed margin, or a smooth margin in the entire leaf. Some leaves are serrated or toothed with smooth margin. The leaves are green, often leathery on top, and pale underneath.
What does a lacy oak tree look like?
Oak tree leaves: The leaves on the lacy oak tree are obovate or elliptical and measure 1.5” to 3.5” (3.8 – 9 cm) long and feature lobed leaves with shallow lobes along the margins. The bluish-green color gives the oak foliage a smoky appearance. Oaks growing in moist soil tend to have deeper lobes.
What does a white oak tree look like?
The distinctive leaves on the white oak tree have several finger-like lobes with rounded tips. Each leaf has seven to nine slender lobes separated by deep sinuses. Additionally, the leaves have a rounded apex and wedge-shaped base. White oak leaves measure 4” to 9” (10 – 22 cm) long. White oak trees are beautiful landscape trees in the fall.
What does a red oak leaf look like?
Leaves of red oaks have very small bristles at the tip of each lobe, or at the tip of the leaf if there are no lobes. White oaks do not have bristles on the leaves; they usually have rounded lobes, or a sawtooth margin. Oak trees bloom in the spring, pollinating by wind through male and female flowers (catkins). What does a live oak leaf look like?