Scarlet Oak is a tree of dry, rocky soil renowned for its brilliant scarlet fall color. The small, deeply-sinused leaves are glossy and smooth on both top and bottom, unlike similar species. The turbinate acorn cups are distinctive. Shumard Oak (Q. shumardii) is similar, but grows in moist areas, has flat acorn cups, and leaves that turn brown-red in fall. Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra) has leaves that are less deeply lobed and less glossy and has flat acorn cups.