Quercus nigra: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Used as timber, fuel, veneer, and plywood but it is not good for finished lumber as it splits when drying. In the case of the Native Americans, this tree was also used for food and medicine.
Plant Profile: Quercus nigra
Taxonomy: Quercus nigraNames
Black Oak, Oaks, Possum Oak, Water Oak
Phonetic Spelling:KWER-kus NY-gruh
Genus:Quercus
Species:nigra
Family:Fagaceae
Water Oak is indigenous to the central and eastern regions of the United States. This semi-evergreen tree thrives in various environments, including forests, floodplains, and along rivers and streams, as well as on slopes with drier soils. In North Carolina, it can be found from the coastal plains up to the foothills of the mountains. The tree typically exhibits a rounded to conical shape, featuring a slender, straight trunk, and can reach heights of 50 to 100 feet. Its leaves are arranged alternately and have smooth or bristle-tipped edges, with shapes that can vary, displaying anywhere from 0 to 5 lobes. In the spring, it produces cylindrical male flowers alongside female spikes. The acorns take two growing seasons to mature and the tree is considered to have weaker wood compared to other oak species.
Water Oak thrives in rich, medium to wet acidic soils and prefers full sunlight, although it can adapt to different soil types and partial shade. It is an excellent choice for naturalized areas, as well as for use as a street or shade tree in larger spaces, and is particularly beneficial in wetter locations.
However, the tree does face challenges from various insects, diseases, and other issues. Its limbs are known for their fragility, and older specimens are prone to rot. Additionally, Water Oaks are vulnerable to oak wilt, which can be fatal. Like many oaks, they are susceptible to a range of diseases, including chestnut blight, shoestring root rot, anthracnose, oak leaf blister, cankers, leaf spots, and powdery mildew. Potential insect threats include scale, oak skeletonizers, leaf miners, galls, oak lace bugs, borers, caterpillars, and nut weevils.
Identification Tips:
Tags
#acidic soil tolerant
#street tree
#cpp
#fruits early fall
#wet soils tolerant
#horace’s duskywing butterfly
#gray hairstreak butterfly
#showy leaves
#deciduous
#Braham Arboretum
#edible fruits
#fall color yellow
#food source
#bird friendly
#white-m hairstreak butterfly
#shade tree
#moth larvae
#low flammability
#yellow flowers
#cover plant
#fast growing
#food source fall
#banded hairstreak butterfly
#wet sites
#children's garden
#well-drained soil
#NC native
#broadleaf evergreen
#compaction tolerant
#fantz
#full sun tolerant
#tree
#fall color red
#fruits
#nighttime garden
#playground
#food source herbage
#food source hard mast fruit
#mammals
#weak wood
#deer resistant
#butterfly larvae
#partial shade tolerant
#fall color
#pollinator garden
#small mammals
#problem for horses
#deciduous tree
#cover
#flowering tree
#small and large mammals
#larval host tree
#edward’s hairstreak butterfly
#juvenal’s duskywing butterfly
#fire resistant
#butterfly friendly
#sandy soils tolerant
#native tree
#spring interest
#moths
#fall color bronze
#salt tolerant
#partial sun
#acorns
#audubon
#clay soils tolerant
#larval host plant
#Piedmont Mountains FAC
#wildlife plant
#showy flowers
#moist soil
#coastal FAC
#imperial moth
#spring flowers
#showy fruits
Similar Plants
Quercus nigra is often confused with:
Quercus nigra Feature Summary
Attributes
Used as timber, fuel, veneer, and plywood but it is not good for finished lumber as it splits when drying. In the case of the Native Americans, this tree was also used for food and medicine.
Central & Eastern U.S.A
AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA. New Jersey south to Florida west to Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri north through Illinois, Kentucky, and Virginia
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, blue jays, ducks, small mammals, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and black bears.
Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out
Perennial
Woody
Edible fruit
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Wildlife Nesting
low flammability
Fruit
1/2 to 1-inch nearly black acorn with a flat, scaled cap that covers about 1/3 the nut. The acorn requires two growing seasons to reach maturity. Involucral bracts are in shallow cups and are imbricated. In North Carolina, the acorns from this tree are available from September to November.
Nut
Brown/Copper
Black
Edible
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
Male flowers in drooping catkins and female flowers in spikes. In North Carolina, flowers are available in the month of April.
Gold/Yellow
Green
Insignificant
Catkin
Spring
Leaves
2-4 inch bluish-green leaves are paler and have pubescence beneath. Leaves may persist throughout the winter in zones 8 and 9. Leaves are alternate, simple, narrowly obovate to spatulate, the apex is shallowly 3-lobed or no lobes, lobes are bristle-tipped to lacking bristles, the base is long and tapering from the middle of the leaf, they are entire and subcoriaceous. The midrib has two conspicuous spreading lateral veins where the leaf broadens, bearing pubescent tuft in axils.
Deciduous
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Brown/Copper
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Alternate
Obovate
Spatulate
Entire
Lobed
1-3 inches
1-3 inches
Bark
The bark is dark and quite tight, smooth when young and later with irregular rough patches; much later developing wide, scaly ridges.
Dark Brown
Red/Burgundy
Scaly
Ridges
Stem
Slender, red-brown stems. Buds are ovoid, 1/4" long, angled above and pointed, scales imbricate, and brown.
Straight
Smooth/Hairless
Cluster of terminal buds
Poisonous to Humans
Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.
Leaves
Fruits
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Native Plant
Poisonous
Deciduous
Broadleaf Evergreen
Rounded
Conical
Spreading
Rapid
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Rain Garden
Nighttime Garden
Native Garden
Shade Tree
Street Tree
Deer
Pollution
Wet Soil
Salt
Compaction
Fire
Recreational Play Area
Lawn
Naturalized Area
Riparian
Pond
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Moths
Small Mammals
Problem for Horses
Weak Wood
Quercus nigra Image Gallery
Quercus nigra Attributes
Quercus nigra: Country Or Region Of Origin
Central & Eastern U.S.A
Quercus nigra: Distribution
AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA. New Jersey south to Florida west to Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri north through Illinois, Kentucky, and Virginia
Quercus nigra: Wildlife Value
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, blue jays, ducks, small mammals, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and black bears.
Quercus nigra: Edibility
Acorns (nuts) are edible after tannins are leached or boiled out
Quercus nigra: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Quercus nigra: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Quercus nigra: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Quercus nigra: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Quercus nigra Fruit
Quercus nigra: Fruit Description
1/2 to 1-inch nearly black acorn with a flat, scaled cap that covers about 1/3 the nut. The acorn requires two growing seasons to reach maturity. Involucral bracts are in shallow cups and are imbricated. In North Carolina, the acorns from this tree are available from September to November.
Quercus nigra: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Quercus nigra: Fruit Color
Black
Brown/Copper
Quercus nigra: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Quercus nigra: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Quercus nigra: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Quercus nigra: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Quercus nigra Flowers
Quercus nigra: Flower Description
Male flowers in drooping catkins and female flowers in spikes. In North Carolina, flowers are available in the month of April.
Quercus nigra: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Quercus nigra: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Quercus nigra: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Quercus nigra Leaves
Quercus nigra: Leaf Description
2-4 inch bluish-green leaves are paler and have pubescence beneath. Leaves may persist throughout the winter in zones 8 and 9. Leaves are alternate, simple, narrowly obovate to spatulate, the apex is shallowly 3-lobed or no lobes, lobes are bristle-tipped to lacking bristles, the base is long and tapering from the middle of the leaf, they are entire and subcoriaceous. The midrib has two conspicuous spreading lateral veins where the leaf broadens, bearing pubescent tuft in axils.
Quercus nigra: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Quercus nigra: Leaf Color
Brown/Copper
Green
Quercus nigra: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Quercus nigra: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Quercus nigra: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Quercus nigra: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Quercus nigra: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Quercus nigra: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Quercus nigra: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Quercus nigra: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Quercus nigra: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Quercus nigra Bark
Quercus nigra: Bark Description
The bark is dark and quite tight, smooth when young and later with irregular rough patches; much later developing wide, scaly ridges.
Quercus nigra: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Red/Burgundy
Quercus nigra: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Quercus nigra Stem
Quercus nigra: Stem Description
Slender, red-brown stems. Buds are ovoid, 1/4" long, angled above and pointed, scales imbricate, and brown.
Quercus nigra: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Quercus nigra: Stem Form
Straight
Zig Zags
Quercus nigra: Stem Buds
Hairy
Hairy tips
Scaly
Smooth/Hairless
Quercus nigra: Stem Bud Terminal
Cluster of terminal buds
Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
Only 1 terminal bud, smaller than side buds
Quercus nigra Poisonous to Humans
Quercus nigra: Poison Symptoms
Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract
Quercus nigra: Poison Toxic Principle
Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.
Quercus nigra: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Quercus nigra: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Quercus nigra: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Quercus nigra Whole Plant Traits
Quercus nigra: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Quercus nigra: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Quercus nigra: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Quercus nigra: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Quercus nigra: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Quercus nigra: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Quercus nigra Cultural Conditions
Quercus nigra: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Quercus nigra: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Quercus nigra: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Quercus nigra: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Quercus nigra: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Quercus nigra: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Quercus nigra Landscape
Quercus nigra: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Quercus nigra: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Quercus nigra: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Quercus nigra: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Quercus nigra: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Quercus nigra: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
