Water Oak
Quercus nigra
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus nigra
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- More than 40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- mar, apr, may
- Bloom Colors:
- Yellow
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Automeris zephyria, Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia), Caloptilia quercinigrella, Cecropis moth (Automeris cecrops), consular oakworm moth (Anisota consularis), contracted datana (Datana contracta), Dasychira tephra, Eriocraniella mediabulla, Morrisonia mucens, Neurobathra strigifinitella, Oak besma (Besma quercivoraria), oak blotch miner moth (Tischeria quercitella), Phyllonorycter aeriferella, Phyllonorycter albanotella, Phyllonorycter quercialbella, Pink-striped oakworm moth (Anisota virginiensis), Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Pseudotelphusa quercinigracella, Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda), Scalloped sack-bearer (Lacosoma chiridota), spotted oakworm moth (Anisota stigma), Tischeria citrinipennella, Ulolonche culea, Yellownecked caterpillar (Datana integerrima), Yellowstriped oakworm moth (Anisota peigleri), Fixsenia favonius, Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained sandy loam
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in floodplains and wetland areas
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 28 to 49 days
Source: npn.rngr.net