FEATURED TREE: The Remarkable ‘New Madrid’ Hybrid Oak
A little over 25 years ago, a simple stop at a rest area near New Madrid, Missouri, sparked the discovery of one of Starhill Forest Arboretum’s most beloved oak selections—the New Madrid hybrid oak.
At that moment, Guy Sternberg identified the parent tree as Quercus nuttallii (also known as Quercus texana), or Nuttall’s oak. While previous trials of Nuttall’s oak from its core range in Mississippi, Louisiana, and other parts of the lower Mississippi River Valley struggled to survive our occasional harsh winters, this particular tree from the northern edge of the range showed much greater promise for cold hardiness.
Early Observations and Selection
From that initial seed collection, seedlings quickly emerged with stunning spring foliage that started out a rich purple, gradually shifting to deep red lasting well into June before turning green. Among the first seedlings grown, several vigorous individuals were selected and nurtured in the nursery. Eventually, three stood out and were transplanted and accessioned for further evaluation. One of these was chosen as the ‘New Madrid’ cultivar, prized for its superior vibrant coloring and marcescent (persistent) leaves, which provide natural screening even in winter.
The beauty of this oak didn’t stop there. The tree produces secondary growth flushes in midsummer that again display attractive purple hues, and by fall, the foliage turns a glowing red, creating a spectacular seasonal show. Its growth habit is an elegant, fast-growing pyramidal form, and it’s remarkably adaptable—tolerating compacted or even flooded soils without missing a beat.
Uncovering the Hybrid Origins
As the seedlings matured, certain traits caught Guy’s attention: fast growth, unusual foliage, excellent hardiness, and a distinctive horizontal branching pattern. These characteristics suggested that New Madrid might be an F1 hybrid rather than a pure species.
The mystery was solved in 2017 when the original New Madrid cultivar flowered and set seed for the first time. This confirmed the hybrid nature of the tree—an offspring of Quercus palustris (pin oak) and Nuttall’s oak. The intermediate features of the acorn cups (shallow and thin like pin oak) and acorn shape (short and rounded) sealed the case. At that very rest stop where the seed was collected, a grove of pin oaks provided the pollen for this fortunate hybrid.
The Best of Both Worlds
While New Madrid resembles its pin oak pollen parent in form, it doesn’t suffer from the chlorosis problems that pin oaks often face in Midwestern soils. At the same time, it inherits the attractive traits of Nuttall’s oak but surpasses it in cold hardiness. The resulting combination delivers vibrant seasonal color, robust growth, broad soil adaptability, and a graceful pyramidal shape.
This versatile tree is well-suited as a street tree—where ample overhead space is available—or as a specimen tree where it can truly shine.
Availability
The New Madrid hybrid oak, along with other unique Starhill Forest Arboretum selections, is available through Forrest Keeling Nursery in Elsberry, Missouri and more locally at Green View Nursery in Springfield, Illinois. If you’re interested in a stunning, hardy oak that brings vibrant color and adaptability to your landscape, New Madrid is an exceptional choice worth considering!
