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Quercus nigra Linnaeus. Subgenus: Quercus. Section: Lobatae. Subsection: Phellos. Common name: Water Oak, Paddle Oak. Phenology: Apr-May; Sep-Nov (of the second year). Habitat: Bottomland forests, especially on levees or second terraces where flooded infrequently and for short periods, less commonly on mesic slopes, but also now widely distributed and common as a "weed tree" in upland situations. Distribution: Primarily a species of the Southeastern Coastal Plain: s. NJ south to s. FL and west to e. TX and se. OK, north in the interior to se. TN, c. TN, w. and sc. KY (Clark et al. 2005), se. MO, and e. OK.

ID notes: Seedlings and fire sprouts of this species are highly variable in leaf morphology; see discussion at end of generic treatment.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Fl2, FNA3, G, GW2, Il, K4, Mo3, NcTx, NS, POWO, RAB, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, Hunt (1990); = Quercus aquatica Walter; > Quercus microcarya Small — S, S13; > Quercus nigra L. — S, S13; > Quercus nigra L. var. heterophylla (Aiton) Ashe — F; > Quercus nigra L. var. nigra — F; Quercus nigra L. Basionym: Quercus nigra L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Quercus nigra - FNA3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Great Plains: FAC
  • Midwest: FACW

Heliophily ⓘ: 5

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image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-NC | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-NC | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Matt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Matt source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-NC | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© theo_witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by theo_witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Michael John Oldham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Michael John Oldham source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Jake Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jake Smith source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Jake Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jake Smith source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-NC | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Sequoia Janirella Wrens, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Sequoia Janirella Wrens source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Quercus nigra, Mile Rock, Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, Dekalb County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Janet Wright, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Janet Wright source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Janet Wright, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Janet Wright source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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Height: 50-80 ft.

plant sale text: As its name indicates, water oak is adapted to wet, swampy areas; however, it will tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, including well-drained sites or heavily compacted soils. It has a broad, rounded open canopy with bluish-green, spatula-shaped leaves. It is a medium-sized oak tree that is often used as a street tree or shade tree in urban areas. Water oak produces an abundant amount of small (~1/2" long) acorns, which are eaten by many species of wildlife. The genus Quercus supports up to 518 lepidoptera species.

bloom table text:

description:

stems:

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germination code:

native range: southeastern United States



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