Oak trees are one of the most common trees found across North America and Europe. Their iconic leaves are a signature sight in many landscapes. But with over 600 species of oak worldwide, there is a huge amount of diversity in oak tree leaves. So what do oak leaves actually look like?
In this complete visual guide, we will survey the major types of oak leaves to get an overview of their diversity. We’ll look at differences between red and white oak groups, evergreen vs deciduous oaks, and provide photos and descriptions of 13 major oak species’ leaves.
The Two Main Groups of Oak Leaves
The first step in oak leaf identification is separating them into two broad categories – red oaks and white oaks
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Red oaks have pointed lobe tips and bristles at the end of their leaves. The veins stretch all the way to the lobe tips.
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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
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
![Pin Oak Leaves][]
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![Willow Oak Leaves][]
Black Oak Leaves
The black oak has classic oak leaf features:
- 5-7 bristle tipped lobes
- Deep, rounded indentations
- Bluish-green color![Black Oak Leaves][]
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![Scarlet Oak Leaves][]
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![White Oak Leaves][]
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![Swamp White Oak Leaves][]
Bur Oak Leaves
The bur oak has huge leaves, sometimes up to 1 foot long. They have:
- Deep central lobes
- Irregular, rounded margins
- Green above, gray-green below![Bur Oak Leaves][]
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![Post Oak Leaves][]
Evergreen Oak Leaves
Evergreen oaks keep their leaves year-round. Their leaves tend to be:
- Smaller and thicker
- Smooth edged without lobes
- Very durable ![Live Oak Leaves][]
Live oak leaves
Leaf Size and Shape
Leaf size can vary dramatically depending on the oak species. They can range from 2-12 inches long generally. Shape also ranges from unlobed linear leaves to deeply cut lobes with bristles.
Here’s a quick size overview of some oak leaves:
- Small leaves under 3 inches: Live oak, willow oak, Japanese evergreen oak
- Medium leaves 3-6 inches: Water oak, laurel oak, pin oak, scarlet oak
- Large leaves over 6 inches: White oak, swamp white oak, black oak, bur oak
In Summary
Oak leaves showcase amazing diversity in size, shape, lobe patterns, colors, and textures. But by understanding the major groups like red vs white oaks and evergreen vs deciduous, you can quickly narrow down a species. Examining details like leaf margins, veins, undersides, and fall colors gives even more clues.
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.
Identification Chart
- Do you know what oak leaves look like? Michael Simpson, PhD, is a registered professional biologist. Michael Simpson, also known as “Mike,” is a licensed professional biologist in British Columbia, Canada. He has worked as a professional and done research in ecology for more than 20 years in both Britain and North America. His main areas of interest are plants and biological diversity. Mike is also an expert at explaining science to people and helping with education and technical aspects of environmental projects. A BSc with honors in ecology, an MA in society, science, and nature, and a Ph.D. were all things Mike earned at The University of Lancaster in England. D. from the University of Alberta. He has worked in ecosystems in Britain, North America, and South America. He has also worked with First Nations communities, non-profits, the government, schools, and businesses. Answer from Michael Simpson, PhD, a registered professional biologist: The typical oak leaf has separate lobes that end in rounded or pointed points. These evergreen plants can have leaves that are “whole” (no lobes or teeth) or have edges that are only slightly wavy.
- Question: What about Live Oaks?
Answer: Live Oaks have small leaves that don’t have lobes. The tree is green all year, and its leaves fall off in the spring. - What shape are the leaves of a southern red oak? They have a bell-shaped base and are 5 to 9 inches long with 3 to 7-inch deep lobes. The center lobe is very narrow and much longer than the others. Each lobe ends in a bristle tip, which are very small hairs. These bristle tips are not on the end of a white oak leaf.
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- ↑ Michael Simpson, PhD. Registered Professional Biologist. Expert Interview. 25 June 2021.
- ↑ Michael Simpson, PhD. Registered Professional Biologist. Expert Interview. 25 June 2021.
- ↑ https://owlcation.com/stem/Types-of-Oak-Trees-with-pictures-of-bark
- ↑ https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/distinguishing-red-oak-from-white-oak/
- ↑ https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/oak
- ↑ Michael Simpson, PhD. Registered Professional Biologist. Expert Interview. 25 June 2021.
- ↑ Michael Simpson, PhD. Registered Professional Biologist. Expert Interview. 25 June 2021.
- ↑ Michael Simpson, PhD. Registered Professional Biologist. Expert Interview. 25 June 2021.
- ↑ http://bios.vanderbilt.edu/pages/compare-oaks.htm
Oak Leaves: An Introduction
FAQ
How to identify an oak tree by its leaves?
What does a live oak leaf look like?
What is the difference between oak leaf and maple leaf?
What does a leaf of a white oak tree look like?
What do oak trees look like?
The leaves measure and the acorns are brown. The leaves of oak trees are easily recognizable due to their distinctive shape and lobed edges. The number and depth of these lobes can vary among different species, adding further diversity to the appearance of oak foliage.
What does a white oak leaf look like?
The eastern white Oak leaves are alternate and simple and come with an elliptical shape. 12 These leaves are 10-23 cm long and they have shallow, deep, angled, or perpendicular sinuses extending to the midvein. These leaves also have different sinuses on the same leaf.
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 red oak tree look like?
The Red Oak is a classic tree has leaves with multiple lobes and rounded crowns. Its leaves shift to vibrant red in the fall and rich green in summer and spring.