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Black Oak

Quercus velutina

Upland oak with deeply furrowed dark bark and orange inner bark. Tolerates dry, sandy soils. Its acorns are traditional food once the bitter tannins are leached out and the seed ground into flour.

Family

Fagaceae

Type

tree

Lifespan

perennial

Height

50–60 ft

Spacing

50–60 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade

Soil moisture

dry

Soil pH

acidic, neutral

Bloom

March, April, May

Bloom colors

yellow, green, brown

Wildlife value

songbirds, butterflies, hummingbirds, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~557 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

naturalizing

Native states

AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV