Sawtooth Oak

• Known botanically as Quercus acutissima, the sawtooth oak tree grows well in southern areas of the United States. This moderately fast-growing oak grows to a mature height of 50 to 70 feet, reaching between 18 and 25 feet in height after the first 10 years. It tolerates poor growing conditions better than most other types of oak trees, but easily succumbs to iron chlorosis. This tree keeps its leaves throughout the winter, making it ideal for home landscapes that need visual interest throughout the year.
  
  

Northern Red Oak

• The Northern red oak is a fast-growing tree, reaching almost 70 feet tall at maturity. Leaves offer a variety of colors throughout the year, changing from light red in the spring, to green in the summer and back again to a darker red in the fall. This oak transplants well, unlike most other types of oak trees. Iron chlorosis occurs in red oaks if they are planted in very alkaline soil. Place this tree in sandy loam soil that drains well and maintain a pH of 7.5 or less for best results.
  
  

Live Oak

• Live oak, the state tree of Georgia, is a huge tree with a wide spreading growth habit. It grows in coastal areas of the southern U.S. It attains a height of 65 to 85 feet, with its crown spreading more than 100 feet in diameter. This tree provides excellent light shade, but works only in very large landscapes.
  
  

Shingle Oak

• Shingle oak, another moderately fast-growing tree, produces fewer acorns than other varieties, making it a better choice for homeowners who wish to avoid tree litter in the yard. However, shingle oak also develops problems not common in other oak trees, including leafminers and twig galls, according to Ohio State University Extension. It grows well in urban areas, making it a good choice for city dwellers.
  
  

English Oak

• English oak grows well in many conditions, including clay soil, though it sometimes develops mildew on its leaves. It offers ideal shade and coverage, with a growth habit similar to that of live oak. This tree grows at a slow to moderate rate when young, but continues at a moderately fast growth rate once established. Its yellow to brown-colored fall foliage offers some color, but fails to provide the same impressive hues seen in other types of oak trees during the fall.
  
  

Pin Oak

• Pin oak reaches just 35 to 70 feet when fully grown, making it one of the smaller oak trees and more suitable to modest home landscapes. It has more potential for problems than other oaks, frequently succumbing to galls, wilt and iron chlorosis. In addition to bright red leaves in the fall, the pyramidal growth habit of pin oak offers a different shape from that of many other oak species.
  
  

Considerations

• Taking other factors into account when choosing an oak tree ensures that you choose the ideal tree for your individual circumstances. For example, a slower-growing tree may take longer to reach maturity, but may also fit better into your landscape. Some slow-growing types of oak trees, such as the swamp oak, thrive in conditions not well tolerated by other oaks. Additionally, even fast-growing oak trees grow quickly only under ideal growing conditions, so trying to force an oak to thrive in poor conditions may result in a smaller, slower-growing or stunted tree.