A Narrow Columnar Oak That Blazes Crimson in Fall

Crimson Spire Oak (Quercus × bimundorum 'Crimschmidt') offers something rare among columnar trees: a strict, narrow upright form and spectacular fall color. This hybrid of English and white oak rises 45 to 55 feet tall on a slim 12-to-15-foot frame, then sets the autumn landscape ablaze with deep crimson-red foliage — far showier than the yellow-brown fall of most narrow oaks. It's one of the narrowest oaks available, ideal for boulevards, screens, and tight yards, and it's hardy to zone 4. Whether you're lining a boulevard in St. Paul, screening a narrow lot in Plymouth, or planting a vertical accent with knockout fall color in Edina, Crimson Spire delivers form and fire in one tree.

Crimson Spire Oak Plant Details

Crimson Spire Oak Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Narrow Boulevards and Screens

At just 12–15 feet wide, Crimson Spire fits boulevards, planting strips, and narrow side yards where a broad oak never could. Plant a row 8–10 feet apart for a tall, slim living screen with the bonus of brilliant fall color in Richfield or St. Louis Park.

Vertical Accent With Knockout Fall Color

Unlike most columnar trees that color modestly, Crimson Spire turns deep crimson-red in autumn — making a single tree a dramatic vertical exclamation point, or a matched pair a striking formal frame for an entry or driveway in Edina.

Tough, Adaptable Structure

Hardy and tolerant of clay, high pH, and urban stress, it holds its tight form with little pruning — a low-maintenance structural tree that brings oak strength and longevity to narrow spaces.

Best Time to Plant Crimson Spire Oak in Minnesota

Oaks are deciduous, so you have two good planting windows in the Twin Cities:

Spring (late April–May), once the ground has thawed, is ideal — oaks establish best with a full season ahead, and spring planting gives the strongest root establishment.

Fall (September–mid-October) also works. Plant at least six weeks before the ground freezes so roots can settle in. Avoid mid-summer planting, and never plant into frozen ground.

How to Plant Crimson Spire Oak

1. Dig wide, not deep — the hole should be 2–3 times the root ball width but only as deep as the ball itself.
2. Check drainage — if water pools in the hole, break through clay hardpan or mound-plant slightly to keep roots out of standing water.
3. Backfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't create a pure-compost "container" in clay.
4. Set the tree so the top of the root ball sits at or just above grade, and handle the roots gently. Space trees 8–10 feet apart for a narrow screen.
5. Build a 3–4 inch water basin around the root zone to direct water to the roots; flatten it before winter.
6. Mulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches from the trunk, and wrap the young trunk the first winter or two.

Watering Crimson Spire Oak in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

Weeks 1–2: water every 1–2 days, deep and slow. Month 1–2: every 3–4 days. Month 3 through fall: every 5–7 days during active growth, less when rainfall is adequate. Stop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes in late October so the tree can harden off for winter.

After Year One

Established Crimson Spire Oak is quite drought-tolerant, needing supplemental water mainly during extended dry spells (2+ weeks with no rain). Water deeply to 6–8 inches every 7–14 days during drought, and let natural rainfall do most of the work.

Will Crimson Spire Oak survive a Minnesota winter? Yes — it's hardy to about -30°F and well adapted to the Twin Cities.

How narrow does it stay? About 12–15 feet wide at 45–55 feet tall — among the narrowest oaks available, with the added bonus of brilliant fall color.

What's the fall color like? Deep crimson-red — far showier than the muted yellow-brown of most columnar oaks, making it a standout for autumn.

Does it need much pruning? No — it naturally holds its tight columnar form with little pruning.

You May Also Like

• Kindred Spirit Oak — an even narrower columnar hybrid oak for the tightest spaces.
• Regal Prince Oak — an upright-oval hybrid oak with bicolor silvery foliage.
• Northern Pin Oak — a native oak with brilliant scarlet fall color.
• Red Sunset Red Maple — a fast shade tree with outstanding red fall color.

How Many Crimson Spire Oak Do I Need?

For a tall, narrow living screen, space Crimson Spire 8–10 ft on center along the line you want to block:

For a vertical accent, plant one as a focal point or a matched pair framing an entry or driveway, spaced at least 12 ft apart.

Crimson Spire Oak Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Glossy green leaves emerge along the tight column; the tree leafs out into a dense, formal pillar.
• Summer: Crisp, dark-green oak foliage holds up to heat, urban stress, and high-pH clay without fading.
• Fall: The payoff — deep crimson-red color that few columnar trees of any kind can match.
• Winter: Strong upright branching (and some russet leaves that often persist into early winter) keep the column visually present against the snow.

At a Glance

✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Kindred Spirit Oak — an even narrower columnar hybrid oak for the very tightest spots.
• Regal Prince Oak — upright-oval form with silvery bicolor foliage for textural contrast in the same row.
• Northern Pin Oak — a native oak with matching scarlet fall color where you have room for a full canopy.
• Red Sunset Red Maple — a fast broad shade tree that echoes the crimson fall display.

Is Crimson Spire Oak Right for Your Yard?

Choose it if you need serious height in a narrow footprint — boulevards, lot lines, tight side yards — on a full-sun site with clay or high-pH soil, and you want real crimson fall color from a low-pruning structural tree. It's not a fit if you're under power lines or low overhead clearance: at 45–55 ft tall it needs open sky, and deer may browse young trees in high-pressure areas, so plan trunk protection early on.