Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Quercus coccinea

Scarlet Oak

Family FagaceaeGenus Quercus

Tall straight oaks in summer woodland above a rock outcrop
The whole plantJay Sturner from USACC BY 2.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Safety

Toxicity
Poisonous to horse, cattle. Acorns, young leaves. Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin. Stated for Quercus spp.Plants Poisonous to Livestock
Toxicity
Low severity. Leaves, Seeds. Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

The plant

Habit
TreePlant Finder
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
50-70 ft15-21 mPlant Finder
Spread
40-50 ft12-15 mPlant Finder
Flower
Yellowish-greenPlant Finder
Blooms
April to MayPlant Finder
Native range
Eastern United States, southern CanadaPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
4-9Plant Finder
Note
Only the half of the acorns that sank were viable. Float them before sowing.Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed.

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunPlant Finder
Soil
Average, dry to medium, well-drainedPlant Finder
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Dry to mediumPlant Finder
Watering
Dry to mediumPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants Poisonous to Livestock — Cornell University Department of Animal Science; Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 23, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    First up on the fourth day, then about 7% of the packet a day.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 13 days.

61% germination — first up on day 4, then 7% a day.

Float the acorns first: only the half that sank were alive at all.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, QuercusPublic domain
Show the original text
Quercus (Fagaceae). Q. borealis, macrocarpa, and velutina were reported to be 40-70 germinators (ref. 28, Ch. 10). Q. coccinea germ. best in 40-70(61%, i. t 4 d, 7%/d). It also germ. 70(8%)-40-70(28% in 2nd w). Only the 50% with densities greater than one were viable.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Quercus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 23, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    8% here. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    28% in the second week.

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 14 days.

28% germination in 14 days.

8% comes up warm, 28% after the cold. Starting cold does better and is quicker.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, QuercusPublic domain
Show the original text
Quercus (Fagaceae). Q. borealis, macrocarpa, and velutina were reported to be 40-70 germinators (ref. 28, Ch. 10). Q. coccinea germ. best in 40-70(61%, i. t 4 d, 7%/d). It also germ. 70(8%)-40-70(28% in 2nd w). Only the 50% with densities greater than one were viable.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Quercus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page