The water oak (scientifically named Quercus nigra) is a tree species in the red oak group that originates on the Southeastern coast of the United States. It is known for its quick growth rate and reaches up to 30 meters tall.

Quercus nigra, the water oak, is an oak in the red oak group (Quercus sect. Lobatae), native to the eastern and south-central United States, found in all the coastal states from New Jersey to Texas, and inland as far as Oklahoma, Kentucky, and southern Missouri. [3]

Feb 17, 2023 · Caring for a water oak is easy, but it is a weak wooded tree prone to many diseases and insect pests. Water oaks produce copious quantities of acorns, which are a favorite food of squirrels , raccoons , turkeys , pigs , ducks , quail , and deer .

Water oak (Quercus nigra), sometimes called possum oak or spotted oak, is commonly found along southeastern watercourses and lowlands on silty clay and loamy soils. This medium-sized rapid-growing tree is often abundant as second growth on cutover lands.

Water oak has a spreading, rounded, open canopy, and is most often used for a naturalized landscape. The acorns are particularly abundant on water oak and make good food for wildlife. They badly stain asphalt and concrete for several months in fall and winter.

Water oak is an ornamental tree of the beech family (Fagaceae), native to the southeastern coastal plains of the United States. The plant is adapted to moist conditions, such as along stream banks, but can tolerate drier soils. It is often planted as a shade tree for its broad canopy.

Dec 1, 1990 · Water oak (Quercus nigra), sometimes called possum oak or spotted oak, is commonly found along southeastern watercourses and lowlands on silty clay and loamy soils. This medium-sized rapid-growing tree is often abundant as second growth on cutover lands.

The water oak is native to the central and eastern United States. It is found in forests, flood plains, and along rivers and streams or in sloped areas with drier soils. It is commonly found in the Coastal Plains and Piedmont areas of North Carolina in bottomland forests.

Water oak trees (Quercus nigra) are a common riparian species, but they present some identification challenges. See photos of these trees here.

SPECIES: Quercus nigra GENERAL DISTRIBUTION : Water oak occurs on the Southeastern Coastal Plain from southern New Jersey and Delaware to southern Florida and west to eastern Texas. It occurs north along the Mississippi Valley to southeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and southwestern Tennessee [50].