Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Northern Red Oak

Quercus rubra

Typically in season from June to February in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland, Woodland edges. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Photo: (c) Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandy Wolkenberg · iNaturalist

When Northern Red Oak is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak June to February. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Northern Red Oak is usually found in Woodland, Woodland edges.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Similar species: Black oak, Scarlet oak, Pin oak. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Northern Red Oak into the field

Open Northern Red Oak in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Northern Red Oak: common questions

When is Northern Red Oak in season?

Northern Red Oak is generally in season from June to February in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Northern Red Oak grow?

Northern Red Oak is usually found in Woodland, Woodland edges.

Is Northern Red Oak safe to forage?

Similar species: Black oak, Scarlet oak, Pin oak. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits