Cherrybark oak is the tallest and arguably the most handsome of the southeastern red oaks, capable of reaching 130 feet in its preferred bottomland habitat with a clean, straight trunk and a broad rounded crown dense with glossy dark green leaves. The pagoda-shaped leaf lobes give it its Latin name and make identification satisfying once you know what to look for. Fall color runs to yellow-brown rather than the dramatic reds of pin or scarlet oak, but the sheer scale of an old specimen more than compensates. Acorns take two full growing seasons to mature, and trees must reach about 25 years of age before they begin producing at all.

For planting success, give cherrybark oak moist, well-drained bottomland soil and full sun. It adapts to drier sites with time but thrives where roots can reach moisture. Growth is relatively fast for an oak, which makes it a reasonable choice for landscape restoration and large-scale naturalized plantings. It supports Imperial moth larvae and a full complement of hairstreak butterflies. Oak wilt and Hispidus canker are the serious disease threats, so maintain good airflow and avoid root disturbance once the tree is established.