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Nuttall Oak (also known as Red River Oak; Quercus texana) is a bottomland native oak producing the highest-volume acorn mast among Southern species — dark brown, inch-long acorns that sustain deer, turkey, and squirrels — on a pyramidal-to-rounded tree reaching 60–80 feet with brilliant red-to-orange fall color. It grows in USDA hardiness zones 6-9 and AHS heat zones 6-9.
1-2′ Bare Root Seedling Tree Propagation: Seedling (own-root) Can’t be shipped to: CA, OR
Nuttall Oak carries a tangled nomenclatural history that persisted well into the twentieth century. The species was first collected by Thomas Nuttall during his 1819 expedition up the Arkansas River, though it was Samuel B. Buckley who formally described it in 1860. For decades the tree was widely called Quercus nuttallii, honoring Nuttall, until taxonomists recognized that the name Q. texana — originally applied to Texas Red Oak — properly belonged to this bottomland species, and that Texas Red Oak should move to Q. buckleyi. That realignment, largely resolved in the 1980s, created lasting confusion in the nursery trade, where both names still circulate. Native to the lower Mississippi River Valley — Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, western Tennessee, eastern Texas, and southeastern Missouri north to southern Illinois — Nuttall Oak belongs to the Red Oak group and requires two seasons to mature its acorns. It is distinguished within that group by strong tolerance of prolonged seasonal inundation, a trait that drove its widespread use in bottomland reforestation programs across the Deep South following twentieth-century land clearing.
Nuttall Oak establishes quickly in deep, fertile, consistently moist to seasonally wet soils. It grows 2–3 ft per year under good conditions — fast for an oak — and reaches full canopy size within 20–25 years. Plan for 40–60 ft of height and a 25–40 ft spread at maturity; give it room from the start. Soil pH of 4.5–5.5 suits it best, and it performs poorly on thin, dry, or alkaline ground. In bottomland settings it handles prolonged spring flooding without crown dieback, making it viable in low spots where other large shade trees struggle. Plant in full sun for the heaviest acorn set — shaded trees produce, but at lower density. Minimal pruning is needed once established; when pruning is necessary, confine it to November through March to avoid attracting nitidulid beetles that vector Oak Wilt. Young trees benefit from a 3-inch mulch ring kept clear of the trunk to retain moisture and moderate soil temperature during the establishment years.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-9 AHS Heat Zone: 6-9 Sun Requirements: Full Sun Soil pH: 4.5-5.5 Soil Type: Heavy clay, alluvial clay flats; poorly drained bottomland soils Soil Drainage: Tolerates seasonal inundation; poorly drained clay flats Water Requirements: Medium Drought Tolerance: Moderate (drought tolerant once established) Heat Tolerance: High; native range extends into USDA zones 8-9 in Gulf Coast states Plant Spacing: 40-60 ft apart Container Suitability: Not Suitable
Nuttall Oak grows as a single-trunked, broadly oval to rounded tree, typically 40–60 ft tall with a canopy spread of 25–40 ft. The bark is gray-brown and develops shallow furrows with age. Leaves are deeply lobed — 7–9 sinuses, bristle-tipped in the Red Oak pattern — turning red to red-brown in autumn before dropping. Foliage is deciduous and clean through summer, with none of the persistent brown-leaf retention seen in some related species. Growth rate is genuinely fast, particularly on bottomland sites with good moisture. The crown becomes dense enough to cast heavy shade, making it effective as a canopy anchor in wildlife plantings or a lawn specimen. Wind tolerance is strong — the deep lateral root system that develops in floodplain soils anchors the tree well. Salt tolerance is serviceable for roadside plantings away from direct brine accumulation. The tree is long-lived once established, with productive mast years extending across the full mature life of the tree.
Mature Height: 60-80 ft tall Mature Spread: 25-40 ft wide Growth Habit: Pyramidal when young, maturing to rounded; strong central leader Growth Rate: Fast Foliage Type: Deciduous Food Forest Layer: Canopy Permaculture Role: Canopy tree, mast producer, wildlife habitat provider, nitrogen cycler (leaf litter), windbreak Leaf Color: Dark green Fall Foliage Color: Brilliant red to red-orange Thorns?: No Attracts Wildlife: Yes — acorn mast for deer, turkey, squirrels, and many birds; host to hundreds of butterfly/moth larvae Life Span: 200+ years
Nuttall Oak is wind-pollinated and monoecious — each tree carries both male catkins and female flowers, so no companion tree is required for acorn set. Male catkins emerge in hanging clusters in late March to early May, releasing pollen as the new leaves unfold; female flowers are small and inconspicuous, borne at the bases of emerging leaves. Because pollination is entirely wind-driven, a single tree in an open location produces acorns reliably. As a member of the Red Oak group, Nuttall Oak's acorns require two growing seasons to mature — flowers in year one, acorns ripen and drop in year two, in fall. This biennial cycle means that in any given autumn the tree is simultaneously carrying mature second-year acorns ready to drop and small first-year acorns forming for next season's crop. Mast production varies year to year with weather during the first-year pollination window, producing the boom-and-bust pattern familiar to wildlife managers.
Bloom Season: Early Bloom Window: Late Mar - Early May Pollination Requirements: Cross-pollination required; wind pollinated Pollination Mechanism: Wind-pollinated (monoecious) Flower Color: Yellow-green (catkins); inconspicuous
Nuttall Oak acorns are medium-sized, averaging 0.75–1 inch long, dark brown at maturity and frequently striped lengthwise with a shallow cup covering roughly a third of the nut. They ripen and drop in October and November, two full growing seasons after pollination. Among Southern bottomland oaks, Nuttall Oak is recognized as one of the highest-volume acorn producers per acre — a characteristic that makes it a top priority species in waterfowl habitat plantings across the Gulf Coast flyway. Wood ducks and mallards key in on flooded Nuttall Oak stands during migration and wintering; deer and wild turkey concentrate under the trees from the first drop through late fall. Acorn fat content is moderate for Red Oak group (higher tannin than White Oaks), but the sheer volume of nuts produced compensates. Tannins make raw acorns unpalatable to humans without leaching, though processed acorn flour is a viable use for growers interested in human-scale foraging. The primary value of this tree is wildlife mast, and it delivers reliably.
Ripening Season: Very Early Harvest Window: Late Sep - Mid Feb Fruit Size: 0.75-1 inch Fruit Color: Dark brown, frequently striped lengthwise Bearing Habit: Biennial mast — acorns take 2 years to mature (Red Oak group); production irregular with boom-and-bust mast years Years to Bear: 5-6 years (first acorns); peak production at 20+ years Culinary Uses: Acorn flour (after leaching), roasted acorns; traditional Indigenous food; primarily wildlife forage
Nuttall Oak's membership in the Red Oak group makes Oak Wilt (Bretziella fagacearum) the most urgent threat — infection moves through root grafts and kills within weeks, far faster than White Oak group species. Never prune between April and July, when nitidulid beetles are actively moving spores. If a tree in the neighborhood shows crown wilt in midsummer, consult an arborist before the disease spreads to connected roots. Bacterial Leaf Scorch (Xylella fastidiosa) causes marginal leaf browning that intensifies in hot summers; established trees tolerate it without dying, though repeated infections weaken vigor over time. Armillaria Root Rot (Armillaria mellea) is a concern on sites where stumps or buried woody debris are present; good drainage and avoiding trunk wounds reduce risk. Oak Decline — a stress complex involving Armillaria, Two-Lined Chestnut Borer (Agrilus bilineatus), and drought or repeated defoliation — tends to hit trees already under multiple stressors; healthy trees on suitable sites resist it well. Anthracnose (Apiognomonia quercina) appears in cool, wet springs but rarely causes lasting harm to mature trees. Spongy Moth, Oak Lecanium Scale, and Forest Tent Caterpillar can cause defoliation or canopy stress in outbreak years; large trees recover unless defoliated in consecutive seasons.
No-Prune Window: Never cut branches April through July — fresh wounds attract sap beetles that carry Oak Wilt spores. Prune only November through March and paint cuts immediately in areas where Oak Wilt is active.
Site for Moisture: Nuttall Oak thrives in low, poorly drained spots where most large shade trees struggle. Plant into wet areas rather than fighting the hydrology.
Wildlife Planting Density: Plant clusters of 3–5 trees for serious waterfowl habitat — combined mast drop from a grove converts a seasonal wetland into productive habitat within 10–15 years.
Mast Cycle Planning: Acorns take two seasons to mature; trees planted now won't drop first acorns until year 3 or 4. Plan wildlife timelines around canopy development, not planting date.
Check Soil pH: Preferred range is 4.5–5.5. On higher-pH soils, interveinal chlorosis can appear — acidify with elemental sulfur before planting rather than attempting correction after establishment.
We ship in late winter or early spring based on your USDA hardiness zone.
We strive to ship orders on the scheduled dates listed in the table below. However, please note that the actual shipping date may be subject to change due to factors like weather conditions and order volume.
The specific date for shipping your order will be determined according to your zipcode at the time of checkout.
Our plants are shipped bare root, packed in moist sawdust, and securely wrapped in plastic to prevent the roots from drying out. We use USPS Ground Advantage for shipping, ensuring that your plants typically arrive within 2-5 days after packaging.
In case you're unable to plant the trees immediately upon arrival, we recommend soaking them in water for a few hours and temporarily heeling them in. Ideally, they should be planted within three days of receipt for optimal health.
Our 365-Day Plant Guarantee: We ensure that our plants are delivered to you alive and healthy. If your plant does not survive its first year, you're eligible for store credit under these conditions:
You maintain the roots' moisture and plant within three days of delivery, following the instructions in our Planting Guide.
If you're concerned about your plant's health, please consult our guide, How to Tell if Your Tree is Dead or Dormant. Remember, our plants are shipped in a dormant state and may leaf out at different times based on their species. To check for plant vital
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