English oak vs Red oak

English oak and Red oak are often considered for the same spot in the garden (shade, specimen). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

English oak

Quercus robur 7 m × 5 m after 10 years

A native tree that lives for centuries and grows huge, with a broad, rounded crown and lobed leaves; it is home to a great many insects and birds.…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about HUF 1,500

Red oak

Quercus rubra 7 m × 4 m after 10 years

A fast-growing oak with a large, spreading crown and big, pointed-lobed leaves that turn orange-red, red or reddish brown in autumn. It is a…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about HUF 4,000

Key differences

Red oak grows faster than English oak.
English oak also takes chalky soil, Red oak prefers acidic soil and struggles on chalk.
English oak also takes heavy clay, Red oak needs a loose, free-draining soil.

Which one to choose?

English oak is the better choice if the soil is chalky or the soil is heavy clay.

Red oak is the better choice if you want quick results.

Watch out for

English oak

Since the 2010s the oak lace bug, introduced from North America, has caused mass damage in Central Europe: leaves fade and yellow by midsummer and drop early, and the insects may swarm over house walls and terraces; there is no effective control yet. The stinging hairs of oak processionary moth caterpillars cause severe skin rashes and breathing problems, and nests should be removed by professionals only. Powdery mildew is common on young shoots. Old trees suffer from falling groundwater levels and prolonged drought and may die back.

Red oak

On calcareous, alkaline soil it develops iron chlorosis (leaves yellow while the veins stay green) and declines, so it does not suit lime-rich gardens in Central Europe. It is a North American species that spreads by seed in Central European forests and smothers the ground flora with its slowly decaying leaf litter: Germany officially classifies it as invasive and it is on the Czech black list, so do not plant it next to woodland or semi-natural areas. The thick, slow-rotting leaf litter and the many acorns mean work in the garden too, and it does not like being under solid paving. Caterpillars (gypsy moth, for example) sometimes strip the leaves.

The data side by side

Feature	English oak	Red oak
Group	Large tree	Large tree
Size after 10 years	7 m × 5 m (uncertain)	7 m × 4 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	20–35 m × 15–30 m	15–30 m × 15–25 m
Growth rate	Medium	Fast
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Sandy, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Medium	Medium (uncertain)
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, yellow, green	April–May, green, yellow
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	1500 cm	1200 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Mildly toxic (uncertain)	no data
For children	Mildly toxic	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	about HUF 43,000 (200–300 cm)	about HUF 4,500 (100–150 cm)

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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