Cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda) is a large and valued Red Oak found in the southern United States. They commonly attain heights well over 100 feet and can have trunk diameters of up to five feet. I have an awesome specimen of this tree in my backyard in SE Louisiana — because of it, my backyard is perpetually shaded in summer.
Cherrybark oak in November (left) and February (right). It gradually sheds leaves from late November through January and already in February next year’s leaves are budding. Also appearing in late February and early March are the flowers of the oak, called catkins — they are small but evident in the picture from February shown above.
Here is a closer view of the flowers (catkins) of the Cherrybark Oak, fallen and draped over a camellia bush. In early March catkins drop from the oak, creating quite a mess and filling the air with oak pollen.
Cherrybark oak’s name reflects that its bark is similar to that of the black cherry tree. Its bark, along with a fallen leaf is shown above in the photo to the left (December). A new leaf in spring (March) is shown in the photo on the right. The scientific name of the tree is Quercus pagoda. The term “pagoda” was used because the shape of the leaf somewhat resembles the roof of a pagoda.
North MN Outdoors 