Quercus nuttallii, commonly known as Nuttall oak or Nuttall’s red oak, is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree native to the southeastern United States, particularly in bottomlands, floodplains, and moist alluvial soils along rivers and streams. It typically reaches heights of 60–90 feet, occasionally taller under ideal conditions, with a straight, strong trunk and a broad, rounded to oval crown that provides excellent shade. The leaves are deeply lobed with sharp, bristle-tipped points, resembling those of pin oak but generally larger and more uniformly shaped; they emerge glossy green in spring and summer before turning vivid shades of scarlet, crimson, and deep red in autumn, making the species highly valued for fall color. The bark is gray-brown, developing shallow furrows and ridges with age. Nuttall oak produces small, rounded acorns that mature in two seasons and are borne in shallow, saucer-like caps; these acorns are a food source for wildlife, especially waterfowl, deer, and squirrels, and are one reason the tree is widely planted in wetland restoration and wildlife habitat projects. Adaptable and resilient, Quercus nuttallii tolerates periodic flooding, heavy clay soils, and brief drought once established, while also showing good resistance to pests and diseases common to other red oaks. Because of its rapid growth, strong wood, adaptability to urban conditions, and outstanding ornamental qualities, Nuttall oak is increasingly popular as a landscape, shade, and street tree throughout the southern and lower midwestern United States.