Red Oak vs White Oak

It can seem confusing to tell the difference between a red oak (Quercus rubra) and a white oak (Quercus alba). Both are types of the oak tree, and both grow all along the east coast of the United States. In Sutton Massachusetts these two types of oak trees can literally grow side by side.

If the oak tree has leaves, then you've got it fairly easy. In the below photo I'm comparing a red oak leaf with a white oak leaf. The red oak leaf is on the left and has jagged edges. The lobes of the leaf are well defined with sharp angles. In comparison, the white oak leaf is on the right and has the rounded edges.

Oak photo

If there are no leaves around, don't despair. You can also tell the difference between a red oak and a white oak by looking at its bark.

Here is a side by side comparison of white oak bark against red oak bark. The white oak bark is on the left and does not have the red center. The red oak bark is on the right and does have the red center.