Quercus nigra
Water oak · also Spotted oak, Duck oak, Punk oak
Report an issue with this species
Water oak is a deciduous tree in the red oak group, native to lowlands of the eastern and south-central US. It is a fast-growing, relatively short-lived species that provides value to birds and mammals, though its leaves may persist into winter. It has moderate water needs.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 680.03%—18 in
- 60.01%4.4 yr0.9 in
- 40.00%—5.0 in
- 30.00%—10 in
- 20.00%—5.9 in
- 10.00%——
Traits
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Mature height
- 50–70 ft
- Canopy spread
- 30–40 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Water needs
- Moderate
- Wildlife value
- High
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 16 in, mean 18 in, 90th percentile 36 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests
- East Central Texas forests
- Mississippi lowland forests
Other Quercus in the catalogue
74 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
