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Water Oak

Quercus nigra

Other common name(s):

Possum Oak, Duck Oak, Punk Oak, Spotted Oak

Family:

Fagaceae (Beech Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers
Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

80
to
100
ft.

Spread

50
to
60
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Acid, Deep, Poor Drainage, Moist

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

High

Native Habitat

Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Nuts, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Fast growing, but weak limbed. Vulnerable to wind and ice damage. Also subject to Pine-oak rusts and leaf blister and Oak Wilt. Propagation: Seed, transplanting.

Comments

Rapidly growing easily transplantable shade tree, but short-lived. Leaves are dark green and wedge-shaped, semi-evergreen, and turn yellow in the fall. The tree has a nice conical shape. Acorns develop in two years. Pollination: butterflies. Provides shelter, food, and nesting for many birds, mammals and insects. Larval Host: Horace’s Duskywing, White M hairstreak, Northern hairstreak.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Quercus microcarya, Quercus nigra var. heterophylla

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=QUNI. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Quercus+nigra&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=12003&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=19280#null

Get in Touch

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Contact a local Chapter

State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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