The northern red oak is a dramatic and powerful tree that normally grows 60-80' in height.Northern red oaks that grow in the open have short stout trunks that split into several large branches 15-20' above the ground, and broad, symmetrical crowns. Those that grow in the forest tend to have longer, unbranched boles and narrower, rounded crowns. The bark is dark brown, nearly black, and broken into ridges and furrows.