Black Oak
Quercus velutina
A widespread upland red oak named for its dark, blocky, deeply ridged bark, with glossy leaves and a distinctive orange-yellow inner bark once harvested for dye. Adaptable and common in mixed hardwood forests; a classic red-group oak for oak-wilt and two-lined chestnut borer concerns when stressed.
Field reference
Family
Fagaceae
Growth rate
Moderate
Mature size
50–80 ft tall, 40–60 ft spread
Hardiness zone
3–9
Soil preference
Dry to medium, well-drained upland soils; tolerates poor, sandy, and clay ground
Sun
Full sun
Pruning window
Mid-winter (dormant); never April–July in oak-wilt zones
Wood properties
Hard, heavy red-group oak (~0.61 SG) sold as red oak; the inner bark yields the yellow dye quercitron. Strong limbs; deeply furrowed dark bark and orange inner bark aid ID.
Native range
Eastern and central United States, Maine to Florida and west to Texas and Minnesota
Green weight
61 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Oak Wiltfungus · Severe severity · peak Spring and early summer (high infection risk from fresh wounds April–July)Spongy Moth (formerly Gypsy Moth)pest · High severity · peak Caterpillars feed and defoliate May–June; egg masses laid mid-summer overwinterBacterial Leaf Scorchdisease · High severity · peak Symptoms most visible mid-summer to fall (July–October)Armillaria Root Rotfungus · High severity · peak Decline visible in summer drought stress; honey mushrooms appear in fall
Common questions
How is black oak different from red oak?
Black oak has darker, blockier, more deeply furrowed bark and bright orange-yellow inner bark, plus often fuzzy buds. Northern red oak has smoother, striped bark and pinkish inner bark. Both are red-group oaks with similar wood.
Why is my black oak declining at the top after a drought?
Drought-stressed black and red oaks are prone to two-lined chestnut borer and Armillaria, which cause top-down dieback. Reduce stress with water and mulch, and remove severely affected, hazardous trees.
Related species in Fagaceae
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