Northern Red Oak

Pollinator Value

🔑 Keystone: Quercus is the top keystone genus in eastern North America, supporting 401 species of butterflies and moths as caterpillar host plants. Northern red oak's large canopy and long lifespan amplify its role as structural habitat for cavity-nesting birds, bat roost colonies, and squirrels that cache and disperse its acorns.
S13 401 lepidoptera; S10 cavity-nesting wildlife; S41 acorn dispersal
🐛 Larval Host: Acronicta retardata, Dryocampa rubicunda, Furcula borealis, Haploa clymene, Hypercompe scribonia, Limenitis archippus, Ceratomia amyntor, Lochmaeus manteo, Orgyia definita, Acronicta interrupta, Limenitis arthemis, Acronicta funeralis, Callosamia promethea, Campaea perlata
S13+S15 14 verified Eastern NA
❄️ Winter Food Source: Acorns persist on the ground through winter, providing high-energy food for Wild Turkey, which includes Q. rubra acorns in up to 17.8% of its diet by occurrence. Squirrels, white-tailed deer, raccoons, flying squirrels, chipmunks, and voles also rely on cached and fallen acorns through the cold season.
S57 Wild Turkey 17.8% occurrence; S10 mammals and gamebirds; S41 acorns important for squirrels, deer, turkey

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5) and secure at both provincial levels (S5 ON, S5 QC). Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Common throughout its range in Ontario; uncommon but present on the Quebec side of the Ottawa-Hull region, becoming more frequent further south in Quebec.
S22 G5, S5 ON, S5 QC; S26 not SARA listed; S63 Uncommon Ottawa-Hull QC side
Rarity Ranks: QC S5 – Secure, ON S5 – Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Northern red oak occupies mesic to dry-mesic upland forests, ravines, and sheltered north- and east-facing slopes throughout the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region. In the Outaouais, it grows in sugar maple-hickory and mixed hardwood stands on deep, well-drained loams over granitic and calcareous bedrock. It is intermediate in shade tolerance and often establishes as advance regeneration beneath a closed canopy.
S41 soils, topography, shade tolerance; S10 habitat; S63 Uncommon Ottawa-Hull QC side; S4 mesic upland forests

Roles: Fire Retardant, Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Nutrient Accumulator, Pollinator Attractor, Shelterbelter, Wildlife Habitat
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = High (not definitional)] | Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S72 Hemenway (tables: 6-2, appendix_a, pp. 96, 186)] | Nutrient Accumulator: S72 Hemenway (tables: 6-2, appendix_a, pp. 96, 186)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 8 bee associations (threshold=3)] | Shelterbelter: S72 Hemenway (tables: 6-2, appendix_a, pp. 96, 186); S72 Hemenway (tables: 6-2, appendix_a, pp. 96, 186)] | Wildlife Habitat: S72 Hemenway (tables: 6-2, appendix_a, pp. 96, 186)]
Notes: As a canopy-layer tree in permaculture guilds, northern red oak serves as shelterbelter, insectary plant, and wildlife habitat provider. Its deep taproot accumulates calcium, and leaf litter provides slug-repellent mulch when dried. The wide canopy creates dappled shade suitable for shade-tolerant understory species. The slow-to-decompose leaf litter contributes to acidic, humus-rich soil conditions.
S72 roles: insectary, nutrient accumulator (Ca), shelterbelter, wildlife habitat; S29 leaf mulch repels slugs; S10 cultivation details

Category: Antidiarrheal, Antiseptic, Astringent, Dermatological Aid, Disinfectant, Emetic, Febrifuge, Gastrointestinal Aid, Oral Aid, Respiratory Aid, Throat Aid, Tonic
S28 Cherokee, Chippewa, Delaware, Malecite uses; S29 antiseptic, astringent, emetic, febrifuge, tonic
Notes: The bark and inner bark were widely used in Indigenous medicine. The Cherokee employed bark preparations as an antiseptic, astringent, emetic, febrifuge, and tonic, and for chronic dysentery, indigestion, asthma, and mouth sores. The Chippewa used a compound decoction of inner bark for heart trouble. The Delaware and Malecite used bark infusions for coughs, hoarseness, and diarrhea. The bark contains tannins with demonstrated antiviral and antiseptic properties.
S28 Cherokee, Chippewa, Delaware, Malecite uses; S29 bark tannins antiviral, antiseptic

✅ Edible

Foraging Notes: Acorns were a staple food for several Indigenous nations including the Cherokee, Dakota, and Iroquois. The bitter tannins must be leached by prolonged soaking or boiling in multiple changes of water before the nut meat is palatable. Leached acorns can be dried and ground into flour for bread, used as a thickener in stews, or roasted as a marginal coffee substitute.
S28 Cherokee, Dakota, Iroquois food uses; S29 seed preparation methods; S4 preparation details