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Quercus nigra

Water Oak

Pronunciation
KWER-kus NY-grah
Family
Genus
Nativity

Mid-south, coastal plain and piedmont

Growth Habit

Conical to round-topped outline.

Hardiness
6
Culture

Low wet woods and floodplains, well adapted to compacted soils, full sun

Facultative Status
Facultative
Landscape Use

Water Oak is adaptable to many conditions but it is weak wooded and thus more likely to crack in wind, snow and ice than other oaks. Has great wildlife value, fine texture, and dimorphic leaves

Foliage

Alternate, simple, dimorphic in age. Older leaves tend to have three lobes.

Buds

Buds are very small and pointed, imbricately scaled.

Bark

Bark is weak and often darker in color and furrowed.

Flower

Insignificant monoecious flowers in separate male and female catkins appear in spring.

Fruit

Acorn

Propagation

Seed requires about 105 days of combined stratification and germination time for maximum germination.

Pests
None serious.

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