VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Quercus coccinea | Scarlet Oak 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Although scarlet oak wood is of inferior grade, it is cut and utilized
with other red oaks as red oak lumber [20].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Scarlet oak acorns are an important food source for numerous upland
wildlife species including squirrels, chipmunks, mice, wild turkeys,
white-tailed deer, blue jays, and woodpeckers [24].  White-tailed deer
occasionally browse young oak sprouts.  The deer only take the top few
inches of the sprout unless it is extremely succulent or other food is
scarce [33].

Small mammals and birds use scarlet oak for nesting sites, both in the
canopy and in cavities [2,56].  


PALATABILITY : 
The sprouts of scarlet oak are more palatable to white-tailed deer than
the sprouts of bear oak [34].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Scarlet oak acorns are on average 14.6 percent crude fat, 35.6 percent
total carbohydrates, 4.2 percent total protein, 0.18 percent calcium,
0.07 percent phosphorus, and 0.07 percent magnesium [4].


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Scarlet oak is widely planted in the United States and Europe as a shade
tree and ornamental.  It has brilliant red foliage in autumn [24].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Forest managers have noticed a decrease in upland oak frequency in newly
regenerated stands after clearcutting, especially on good sites.  The
reason for the decrease is the inability of oak seedlings to compete
successfully with late successional, fast-growing species that have
invaded the oak forest understory in the absence of fire [51].

Oak seedlings that are occasionally top-killed will sprout from the
stump.  These sprouts, known as advance regeneration, have
well-developed root systems.  They grow faster than true seedlings and
are better able to compete successfully.  To regenerate upland oaks
successfully, advance regeneration must be 4 to 5 feet (1.2-1.5 m) tall
before the overstory is removed.  Regeneration of a mixed oak forest
after clearcutting can be successful only if there are adequate numbers
of older advance regeneration or saplings [51].  Sanders [50] recommends
there be at least 433 well-distributed oak sprouts and saplings per acre
(1,070/ha).  Otherwise, a shelterwood silviculture system is needed to
give oak regeneration time and partial light to grow [24,51,59].  For
best results, the shelterwood cut should leave a 60 to 70 percent
stocking density.  All nonoak stems in the understory larger than 4 to 6
feet (1.2-1.8 m) tall should be killed [51].

The season of clearcutting appears to have an effect on the regeneration
of upland oaks stands.  On medium quality sites in south-central Ohio,
upland oaks (chestnut, scarlet, black and white) were more favored over
mixed hardwoods after summer clearcutting than after winter
clearcutting.  The season of harvest (dormant season versus growing
season) did not affect regeneration on good sites [59].

Site quality affects the ability of upland oaks to regenerate.  In the
above study in south-central Ohio, medium quality sites had higher
absolute and relative oak densities 18 to 20 years after clearcutting
than did good sites.  The oaks showed good early establishment on both
medium and good sites but were later unable to compete with the faster
growing, mesic hardwoods on good sites [59].

Information on storage, seeding, and planting techniques for upland oaks
is detailed [49].  A method for increasing the growth rate of northern
red oak seedlings in nurseries has been developed and may be applicable
to scarlet oak [55].

Once scarlet oak stands are established, thinning increases the growth
rate of remaining trees.  Thirty-two-year-old scarlet oaks showed 12
years of increased differential diameter growth beginning 6 to 7 years
after thinning.  The reason for the delayed response is unknown [10].
Information on thinning, stocking, growth and yields of upland oaks is
detailed [18].  Thinning upland oak stands to retain the best acorn
producers for wildlife habitat enhancement did not improve acorn yields
enough to justify the efforts [13].

Scarlet oak is susceptible to a number of insects and diseases.  Gypsy
moth (Lymantria dispar), an introduced species, defoliates scarlet oak,
and successive defoliations can kill a tree.  Other insects that
defoliate scarlet oak include oak leaftier (Croesia semipurpurana), fall
cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria), forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma
disstria), and walkingstick (Diapheromera femorata).  Insects that bore
into the trunk include twolined chestnut borer (Agrilus bilineatus), red
oak borer (Enaphalodes rufulus), oak timberworm (Arrhenodes minutus),
Ambrosia beetles (Platypus spp. and Xyleborus spp.), and the larvae of
carpenterworms (Prionoxystus spp.).  Egg-laying activity of the gouty
oak gall wasp (Callirhytis quercuepuntata) results in galls on smaller
twigs and limbs, and the oak-apple gall wasp (Amphibolips confluenta)
causes gall growth on leaves and petioles.  Black carpenter ants
(Camponotus pennsylvanicus) sometimes nest in standing trees [24].

Scarlet oak is susceptible to oak wilt caused by the fungus Cerotocystis
fagacearum, and infected trees may die within 1 month.  Cankers are
caused by Nectria spp. and Strummella coryneoidea.  Fungi, such as
Stereum gausapatum, cause heart rot and enter the bole through branch
stubs and fire wounds.  Scarlet oak does not self-prune well, and old
branch stubs facilitate fungi entry [24].  Pruning a scarlet oak stand
results in better timber quality [7].  Sprouts are susceptible to heart
rot; sprouts from large diameter stumps are more susceptible than those
from small diameter stumps [24].

Scarlet oaks that are stressed from drought, gypsy moth defoliation,
spring frost defoliation, old age, fire, poor site conditions, or other
factors often succumb to secondary agents such as twolined chestnut
borer and shoestring root rot (Armillaria mellea).  This scenario, in
which a primary agent stresses the tree and a secondary agent kills it,
is known as "oak decline" and is responsible for considerable scarlet
oak mortality.  For instance, from 1968 to 1972, 27 percent of scarlet
oak in the Newark Watershed in New Jersey died from gypsy moth
defoliation followed by twolined chestnut borer and shoestring root rot
attack [42].  Based on site factors, a general stand classification of
mortality risk from oak decline has been developed [53].

Herbicides have been used to control scarlet oak on sites where pine
regeneration is desired.  In order to convert a North Carolina
Appalachian site to white pine (Pinus strobus), picloram was applied in
May as 10 percent acid equivalent pellets at the rate of 4.5 pounds acid
equivalent per acre (5.0 kg ae/ha).  One year later, 19 percent of the
scarlet oaks showed complete crown kill or defoliation; 72 percent showed
leaf curling, crown biomass reduction, and/or chlorosis; and 9 percent
exhibited no effect from the herbicide treatment [44].

In Georgia, three herbicides were tested on scarlet oak.  Each tree
received one incision for every 3 inches (7.6 cm) in d.b.h.; each
incision was injected with 0.06 ounces (2 ml) of herbicide.  One year
after injection, scarlet oaks injected with Arsenal at two different
concentrations (1 and 2 pounds AC 252,925 per gallon [120 and 240 g/l])
had 100 percent top-kill and no sprouting.  Garlon 3A (1.5 pounds
triclopyr per gallon [180 g/l]) resulted in 50 percent top-kill.
Scarlet oak injected with 3,6-dichloropicolinic acid at two
concentrations (1.5 and 3 pounds XRM-3972 per gallon [180 and 360 g/l])
resulted in 0 percent and 20 percent top-kill, respectively [41].

When managing forests for cavity-nesting species, scarlet oak should be
selected over hickories (Carya spp.) and white oak because of its high
number of cavities.  In southeastern Missouri, 21.2 percent of scarlet
oaks had cavities.  The average d.b.h. of cavity trees was 12.2 inches
(31.0 cm) with bigger trees having larger cavities [2].  In the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park, dead standing scarlet oak decays at a
rate of 5.7 percent per year [21].

Related categories for Species: Quercus coccinea | Scarlet Oak