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Quercus nigra (Water oak)
1 hour care
per year
per year
25m
Max height
Max height
18m
Max spread
Max spread
50-100 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Quercus nigra
Other names
Water oak, North American barren oak, North American black oak, Possum oak, Quercus microcarya, Quercus nigra var. heterophylla, Spotted oak, Punk oak, Duck oak
Genus
Quercus Quercus
Species
Q. nigra - Q. nigra is a broadly conical to broadly rounded, deciduous to semi-evergreen tree with pendent lower branches, smooth, grey bark, and spoon-shaped to narrowly obovate, usually three-lobed, dark green leaves turning yellow in autumn. Yellow-green flower catkins in spring are followed by spherical acorns with woolly, scaly cups.
Quercus nigra is: Deciduous
Habit
Broadly conical
Toxicity
Acorns are edible only after tannins are leached or boiled out.
Flower
Yellow-green in Spring
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Scarlet, Reddish-brown in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Also: Knopper gall wasps
Specific pests
Aphids , Oak gall wasps Aphids , Oak gall wasps
Diseases
Also suffers from oak wilt in North America only.
Oak wilt , Powdery mildew Oak wilt , Powdery mildew
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 1
Propagation methods
Grafting, Seed
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Where to grow
Quercus nigra (Water oak) will reach a height of 25m and a spread of 18m after 50-100 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Low Maintenance, Specimen tree
Cultivation
Best grown in deep, fertile, moist or moist but well-drained, acid soil in full sun. Tends to be short-lived.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Quercus nigra
Other names
Water oak, North American barren oak, North American black oak, Possum oak, Quercus microcarya, Quercus nigra var. heterophylla, Spotted oak, Punk oak, Duck oak
Genus
Quercus Quercus
Species
Q. nigra - Q. nigra is a broadly conical to broadly rounded, deciduous to semi-evergreen tree with pendent lower branches, smooth, grey bark, and spoon-shaped to narrowly obovate, usually three-lobed, dark green leaves turning yellow in autumn. Yellow-green flower catkins in spring are followed by spherical acorns with woolly, scaly cups.
Native to
Southeastern United States
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Broadly conical
Toxicity
Acorns are edible only after tannins are leached or boiled out.
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Colour
Flower
Yellow-green in Spring
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Scarlet, Reddish-brown in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Also: Knopper gall wasps
Specific pests
Diseases
Also suffers from oak wilt in North America only.
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 1
Propagation methods
Grafting, Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Quercus nigra (Water oak) will reach a height of 25m and a spread of 18m after 50-100 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Low Maintenance, Specimen tree
Cultivation
Best grown in deep, fertile, moist or moist but well-drained, acid soil in full sun. Tends to be short-lived.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Clay, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
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