It is dark grey to blackish with rough, deep furrows that have scaly ridges
This particular tree is aged and is at Harvard University. (click here)
The habitat is moist, loamy, sandy, rocky and clay soils. They are often found in pure stands of this species.
The Northern Red Oak also has a red under bark. It is best seen in the twigs which who the red color. This is a spring twig with three buds, two at the top and one at the first node from the top.
