Quercus nigra

Common Names

Water Oak, Possum Oak, Spotted Oak, Duck Oak, Punk Oak, Orange Oak, Chêne Gris

Summary

Water Oak is a North American native oak in the red oak group with a broad, rounded canopy and a typical height of 50–60 ft (occasionally up to 80 ft) and a spread of 60–70 ft. Leaves are highly variable, often spatulate or three-lobed; acorns are about 1/2 in long and mature in the autumn of the second year. It tolerates wet bottomlands as well as well-drained, heavy soils and is used for timber, fuel, and wildlife habitat across its range from New Jersey and Delaware to Florida and across the Southeast to Texas and Oklahoma.

In landscapes, Water Oak is valued for shade, buffer strips, medians, and urban plantings due to rapid growth and wildlife-friendly acorns. It can be prone to weak wood and limb breakage, so early pruning helps develop a strong central trunk. Propagation is by seed or hardwood cuttings; common pests and diseases include galls, scales, borers, leaf spots, oak wilt, and root or trunk rot, with regular care supporting tree health.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

50-60 feet

Spread

60-70 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-10A

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; also grows in partial sun or partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist to wet, well-drained silty clay or loamy soils

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soils; tolerates wet conditions.

Soil pH

acidic to slightly alkaline soils, no single ideal pH, very high pH can cause iron chlorosis

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

About 2 feet per year under good or favorable conditions.

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Quercus nigra attracts butterflies, other pollinators, and birds