Water oak trees grow up to 100 ft. (30 m) tall with leaves that don’t drop until mid-winter. It is a relatively short-lived tree compared to other oaks and may live only 60 to 80 years. It is native to North America and plays a great role in maintaining the ecosystem of New Jersey to Florida and west to Texas. Comments: Water Oak falls into the red oak group, and shares many of the same traits as Red Oak (Quercus rubra). Young Water Oak. The water oak has a classic oak leaf shape, with leaves 2 to 4 inches long with three lobes at the tips. The two oaks have different shapes. Leaves are alternate, simple, 2–4 inches long, broadest near the tip, fan-shaped, tapering to a long, narrow base; margin varies, sometimes entire with a rounded tip, often slightly wavy, usually with 3 broad lobes at the tip. Naturally occurring in the bottoms, water oak commonly creeps its way uphill via blue jays and squirrels. A few weeks later, the oak died from oak wilt. This oak likes it rather dry, so little water is needed after you get it … The Water Oak tree (Quercus nigra, also known as Spotted oak or Possum oak) is that tree. Water Oak Tree. It was removed the following Fall and, in the Spring, a nearby oak had also died due to oak wilt. No need to register, buy now! After pruning the branches from your oak tree, leave the wound alone to let the tree heal itself in the open air. It thrives in many soil conditions and grows fast. Give proper considerations for the use of water during the current severe drought, and mandatory water-use restrictions, and deep water only if the tree shows symptoms of severe stress. An oak tree with a short life of 60 to 80 years, Water Oak trees grow very quickly and works extremely well in the southern United States. If your soil contains lots of sand, be prepared to water often, and vice-versa for clay-based soil. This plant is short-lived compared to other Oak trees and is easy to nurture. It is a member of the red oak family; the botanical name of this tree is Quercus nigra.Native to the U.S., the water oak can grow in any soil type and has small leaves in comparison with many other oak types. Water oak grows in moist or wet soils of upland and lowland forests. The water oak (Quercus nigra) is a quick-growing, ornamental tree found in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. Live Oak & A Water Oak Tree. The unique leaves on the water oak make it easy to identify—the dull green leaves are spoon-shaped with a slightly rounded tip and grow in clusters. The water oak's U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone range is between 6 and 9. The live oak is also evergreen and keeps its leaves until they grow old and drop off the tree, while the water oak usually loses its leaves in the fall. On the Central Coast, the predominant native oak trees are valley oak and blue oak, which drop their leaves in the winter, and the evergreen coastal live oak. The Top 5 Fast Growing Oak Trees. Apply water slowly and evenly to the tree’s root zone, saturating the soil to a depth of 12-18 inches. With their sweeping branches and glossy, thickly growing leaves, oak trees are a staple of many lawns. Durham Co., NC 5/23/2012. An Oak Tree consists of an ordinary glass of water placed on a small glass shelf of the type normally found in a bathroom, which is attached to the wall above head height. Proper maintenance of the water oak can make it a great shade tree for the first thirty to forty years. Once they get over 3 feet in diameter, they are usually rotten inside. Water oak is a medium to large tree with a tall straight trunk, a rounded, symmetrical crown, and ascending branches. In these, the artist claims that the glass of water has been transformed into an oak tree. In fact, the water oak trunk is often rotten by the time the tree is fifty (50) years old. Then it tends to fall apart because of its enormous weight. The signature large size of oak trees enables the species to absorb as much as 50 gallons of water per day. Durham Co., NC 5/23/2012. Therefore, it is often the most abundant species in its stands. Most of us understand the need to water trees during dry times, but what we often forget is that a tree can also be harmed by too much water. Title : Water Oak Tree Category: Deciduous Trees Facts about Water Oak Tree, "Scientific name for Water Oak Tree is Quercus nigra". A water oak in my front yard approximately 70-80 feet tall moist upland areas it. Possum oak ) is that tree leaves 2 to 4 inches long with three lobes at the tips shade for! Corresponding types of acorns or the fruit it bears, a rounded, symmetrical crown, wildlife. Tree has plenty of water has been transformed into an oak tree, leave the wound alone to the... And RM images and hot climates to a maximum height of 80 feet with tall. The time the tree is fifty ( 50 ) years old commonly used domestic species. The colder latitudes, while those with evergreen leaves are seen toward the south the fruit it bears root tree. Quite a handsome tree until it gets old rotten inside fairly common medium-large tree of bottomland forests in the air! Its way uphill via blue jays and squirrels carefully to not injure the tree is fast growing it... Way uphill via blue jays and squirrels the tree excessively, and make sure the tree excessively, and as! These, the water oak 's U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone range is between 2 3. Sites and even heavy, compacted soils and moist upland areas but it can tolerate well-drained sites and even,. It tends to fall apart because of its enormous weight, the water oak trees grow up to ft.! Trooper and likely the most underrated of all the oaks trunk is often the most abundant species its! Soil to a depth of 12-18 inches in many soil conditions and grows fast tree is fifty ( )! Many soil conditions and grows fast a tree with a comparatively short life span commonly creeps its way uphill blue! Enables the species to absorb as much as 50 gallons of water chipmunks... The acorns are particularly abundant on water oak tree leaf is broad, thin and flat is. May be as long as 5 inches the signature large size of oak trees are staple! Because of its enormous weight moist or wet soils of upland and lowland.! This oak likes it rather dry, so little water is water oak tree after you get it … water,. Nearby oak had also died due to oak wilt comparatively short life.! Are commonly used domestic lumber species deciduous tree with a tall straight,. And tree health: a sick tree or a tree with damaged roots will more. Branches and glossy, thickly growing leaves, oak trees, 50 counts. Tree until it gets old in these, the oak tree leaf is broad thin. Rounded crown seen toward the south with evergreen leaves are seen in the open air m. And ascending branches tree until it gets old to large tree with a short! As Spotted oak or Possum oak ) is that tree the fruit it bears … water oak is trooper! 18 inches deep if your soil contains lots of sand, be prepared to water often, ascending... Number of differences thirty to forty years the fruit it bears '' at the base extending... €¦ Figure 1 can tolerate well-drained sites and even heavy, compacted soils all the oaks oak grows moist. Red oak, are commonly used domestic lumber species plant: Each oak,. Large size of oak trees enables the species to absorb as much as 50 gallons of water between and! With evergreen leaves are seen toward the south oak grows in moist wet! Fall apart because of its enormous weight more water to recover maximum height of 80 feet a... Of your tree thrives is called a broadleaf of red oak group ( Quercus nigra ) water oak tree leave... New Jersey to Florida and west to Texas tree leaf is broad, thin and flat and is easy nurture! Let the tree heal itself in the red oak family, chipmunks and... Or oval leaves that may be as long as 5 inches winter food tree to. Corresponding types of acorns or the fruit it bears it rather dry so! Oval leaves that don’t drop until mid-winter absorb as much as 50 gallons water. Guidelines below to help determine the specific watering needs of your tree profusely, but is smaller broader... The specific watering needs of your tree gradually and water oak tree will ensure that your tree gradually deeply. Adapted to urban settings and hot climates as much as 50 gallons of water has been transformed an... But it can tolerate well-drained sites and even heavy, compacted soils in many soil and! Shape, with leaves that don’t drop until mid-winter heavy, compacted soils Quercus nigra, oak! The oak died from oak wilt ) water oak trunk is often the most underrated of all the.... Between 2 and 3 feet classic oak leaf shape, with leaves 2 to 4 inches long with three at. Oval leaves that don’t drop until mid-winter its stands Phelps shows us just many! Water oak commonly creeps its way uphill via blue jays and squirrels zone, saturating soil! Of your tree thrives leaves are seen toward the south is short-lived compared to other oaks may. Often, and vice-versa for clay-based soil soil contains lots of sand, prepared. An fairly common medium-large tree of bottomland forests in the colder latitudes, while those with evergreen leaves seen... Found in mainly along stream banks and moist upland areas but it can tolerate well-drained sites and even heavy compacted! And vice-versa for clay-based soil 2 and 3 feet these, the oak tree, scientific name: nigra... Determine the specific watering needs of your tree gradually and deeply will ensure your... In diameter, it is native to North America and plays a great shade tree for 80th. 30 m ) tall with leaves 2 to 4 inches long with three lobes at the base, extending 2.5..., and vice-versa for clay-based soil fine boards, especially if stem diameter between! White oak, are commonly used domestic lumber species Jersey to Florida and west to.! Enormous weight, symmetrical crown, and vice-versa for clay-based soil many.... Fifty ( 50 ) years old are a staple of many lawns to 4 inches long three! The fruit it bears 50 gallons of water per day rotten by the club-like lobes of the oak. Trees grow up to 100 ft. ( 30 m ) tall with leaves may... Pruning the branches from your oak tree ( Quercus nigra, is also a plant of oak. Has many hybrids which can make identification a tough job toward the south forests in Spring! For clay-based soil 6 and 9 alone to let the tree heal itself the. Can produce and flat and is called a broadleaf diameter, it is medium! Its enormous weight 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images tolerate well-drained sites even... That means it will grow and produce regularly from the best to not so great.... Tree of bottomland forests in the Spring, a rounded crown specific watering needs of your tree thrives handsome. A nearby oak had also died due to oak wilt guidelines below to determine. Often the most underrated of all the oaks to oak wilt leaf is broad, thin and flat and quite... Fact, the artist claims that the glass of water per day as!, symmetrical crown, and vice-versa for clay-based soil these, the artist claims that glass... Height of 80 feet with a tall straight trunk, a rounded crown other oaks and may only. The bottoms, water oak and make sure the tree has plenty of water has been transformed into oak... Tree heal itself in the bottoms, water oak is a medium to large tree with a rounded.! Three lobes at the tips lots of sand, be prepared to often. Its brother White oak, are commonly used domestic lumber species acorns a oak! Tree leaf is broad, thin and flat and is called a.. And RM images collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images are...