At full growth this is a large tree, growing over 80 feet tall with a trunk diameter up to 5 feet. If abundant, this species can make a significant contribution to overall fall tree coloration. In many ways it is similar to the black oak (Quercus velutina), but the buds and underside of the leaves of the red oak tend to be hairless. The buds of the red oak are also smaller than those of the black oak. Both have moderately lobed leaves with pointed tips. The red oak usually has 7-9 lobes. Red oak leaves tend to be more dull green on top, while black oaks are glossier. The bark of the red oak is dark, furrowed, and often laced with broad shiny strips. The black oak has dark bark that tends to form in blocks, sometimes with shiny ridges. The leaves of both species are variable and 4-8 inches long, though the average length of the red oak leaves is a bit more than that of the  black oak. The red oak also has larger acorns than the black oak. In the fall, if conditions are right, the red oak turns a brilliant red color that is similar to the pin oak. The  black oak tends to vary from yellow to red. Both species of oaks turn to their fall colors later than the maples and beech. That is certainly the case this year, as the sugar maple and American beech have shed most of their leaves and the oaks are just beginning their color change.