Quercus nigra Linnaeus

Water Oak; Paddle Oak

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Water Oak is a large deciduous native tree in the Beech family (Fagaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Water Oak obtains its best growth in in mesic to wet hardwood forests along streams and rivers. However it occurs in a wide range of forest types, and is especially prolific in disturbed woodlands and in pine forests from which fire has been excluded. Water Oak reaches heights of 90-100 feet. The bark is thin and grey in color, breaking into irregular plates. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, obovate in outline, and often with three shallow lobes at the apex. Leaf shape is notoriously variable, especially on fast growing shoots and young trees. Leaves are glabrous above and glabrous except for tuffs of hairs in the axils of the major veins below. The leaves are tardily deciduous, often with brown leaves remaining on the tree late into the winter. Leaves become yellow-brown before falling. Male flowers are produced in drooping greenish-yellow catkins. Female flowers are solitary and sessile. The fruit is a nut. Acorns take two years to mature. The cup of the acorn is shallow and encloses ¼ or less of the nut. Water Oak was a common shade tree throughout much of the south. Its large size and short lifespan (trees start to decline between 75-100 years of age) have caused it to loose popularity. Water Oak is available from many nurseries. It prefers a rich acidic soil in full sun. Best growth is obtained on moist soils. Water Oak is one of the most common oak trees in Alabama. The variability of shapes in its leaves along with many possible hybrids can make identification difficult. Water Oak is reported to hybridize with Q. arkansana, Q . falcata, Q. georgiana, Q. hemisphaerica, Q . incana , Q . laevis, Q. laurifolia, Q . marilandica, Q. myritifolia, Q. palustris, Q . phellos, Q. rubra, Q . shumardii, Q. texana, and Q . velutina.--A. Diamond

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Native FAC (NWPL)

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