Trunk of tree in question.

That is a six foot fence behind the tree. Sorry picture is so dark. The neighbor had cottonwoods growing on the east side of the tree on the property line. Cut them down about 4 years ago. Tree has started to fill out on that side but I am sure it will take years.

duplicate error

{{!gwi}}

This post was edited by drc215 on Mon, Sep 22, 14 at 19:51

My guess is Quercus Velutina. The Black oak has orange color in the trunk bark, which I do see in your pic, and no fall color also, my GUESS is Q. Velutina. I may be wrong, though, but i THINK I am right. The leaves will also be thick with velus hairs underneath.

Northern red oak.

Read about both the red oak and black oak. Disappointed that my tree does not turn red in fall, just a boring brown. Also learned that sometimes it takes years before acorns grow. No fuzzies on the bottom of my leaves. I am wondering tho, what are those two yellow fuzzy balls on the bottom of the left leaf?

Thanks for your help!

That is kind of gall, I believe caused by very small wasp - I have many on leaves of the oak. Read that they are 'cosmetic', but still don't like them. There is a lot on my tree.

Rina

Oaks very prone to a variety of harmless galls. Learn to love em, or at least ignore them...treatment would not only be difficult, but a lot of guys (like me!) would probably yell at you for wanting to use pesticides for so harmless a situation!

N. red oak is what it is....OP's tree I mean. Very high-quality legacy tree. Should outlast us all.

+oM

Oaks are prone to TONS of foliage-blemishing issues. The vast majority cause little to no actual damage.

I've found that while individual Q. rubra and velutina specimens can have good fall color, at least half turn just brown around here. The other half can vary from red to yellowish to brown, depending on conditions that year.

As far as lack of acorns, most 35+ year old oaks should produce some, but it wouldn't be out of the question for them not to at that age, either.

No problem +oM, would only consider pesticides if they were needed to save the tree. The leaves on this tree have always been marred by rusty colored spots. Been living with that for 27 years but I have wondered if the tree is not getting nutrients needed to prevent the rusty spots.

But since the tree continues to grow each year I figure it only needs water from me when there isn't enough rain.

Thanks everyone!

My neighbors 24 yr old Q. Rubra has had acorns for a few years now. I know the age because I planted it.

A dozen or more Q.rubra, planted bareroot here in 1996, as 3-yr seedlings are producing their first acorn crop (and not all of them doing so) this year.
Most bur oaks planted at the same time - and since - have begun producing good crops of acorns at 6-8 yrs of age.

Sometimes you just have to wait...

Thanks poaky and Lucky. My husband says be careful what you wish for...do you really want to clean up acorns?

He is so right!