Northern Red Oak Flowers (Quercus rubra)
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The northern red oak is a large, flood-resistant tree that can be found in the upland forests of the Arboretum. The name “red oak” refers to the tree’s brilliant fall display, the reddish color at the base of each stem, and the color of the tree’s interior wood. Male flowers grow in yellow-green hanging clusters called catkins, while female flowers are reddish-green and grow at the base of each leaf. Red oaks bloom in mid-May and are pollinated by the wind.