it had to have been field dug and put in the huge pot ...

when such is done.. there is no way to predict how the root mass was raped in the field ...

so i dont know how you compare one to the others ... when we cant see the roots ...

what does your seller say??? .. is it warrantied??? .. put him on notice of such ...

a pic would sure help us

all you can do.. is continue proper watering for this year.. and in drought next year.. and hope for the best ..

ken

Maybe you've lucked up and got a special selection of Q.shumardii, similar to the 'New Madrid' Q.nutalli.

Here is a link that might be useful: Q.nutalli 'New Madrid'

Here's a pic if it works... 4 of my shumards are from the same tree farm and seem extremely healthy...

Root ball pic. Adding mulch and expanding mulch bed around it this week.

Leaf close up

Most Shumards I've seen often have red color leaves when first unfurling and growing. Typically that color has changed to green by about 1/2 to full leaf size. Yours does look unusual to still have reddish color at this size.

I have a Nuttall's oak that keeps red leaves for a long time. Maybe it is this "New Madrid". I'll pay more attention this season. It eventually turns green, if I remember correctly, but it takes a while.

Here's a photo from a couple years ago, it's the purple one.

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The Nuttalli stays reddish for a while.

You can see the other plants are green leaved. It turns burgundy reddish early in fall also. I will try to notice in summer if it has any reddish tone to the greener leaves.