all the plants we love

Black Oak

Black Oak

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Black Oak

Black Oak

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Description:

A beautiful large shade tree with a globular spreading crown and interesting fall color; an extremely tough and adaptable tree, best for larger landscapes; prefers moist, rich soils but tolerates poor dry soils as well

Ornamental Features

Black Oak has dark green foliage with grayish green undersides on a tree with a round habit of growth. The spiny lobed leaves turn outstanding shades of yellow, antique red and brown in the fall. However, the fruit can be messy in the landscape and may require occasional clean-up. The furrowed black bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Black Oak is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting squirrels to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy

Black Oak is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Shade

Planting & Growing

Black Oak will grow to be about 60 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 60 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 6 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 300 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is native to parts of North America.