Water Oak

Quercus nigra

Fagaceae (Beech Family)

▲ ▼ young trees

▲ ▼ leaves

Location on Missouri State University campus: in retention basin area at southwest corner of National and Grand

Quercus nigra: Water Oak

leaves alternate, deciduous to semi-evergreen, simple, oblanceolate with slight lobing toward tip, 2-4" long and 1/3 as wide; some green foliage often persists through winter--especially on younger trees
stems slender, smooth, red-brown
bark is gray-brown, slightly furrowed, like pin oaks (Quercus palustris) and willow oaks (Quercus phellos)
has growth habit similar to pin oaks--upper branches ascending, middle ones horizontal, lower ones more drooping; grows 50-80’ tall and 1/2 as wide
prefers moist, well-drained soils, tolerates wet soils, easy to transplant
medium to fast growth rate
native to southeast Missouri