Quercus velutina aka Black Oak

Black oak, Quercus velutina, is a large deciduous tree in the red oak group of the beech family, Fagaceae. It grows wild across the eastern and central United States and into southern Ontario. Its range runs from Maine and Minnesota south to Florida and Texas. In the wild it favours upland hills, slopes and ridges. The species name means velvety, after the fine hairs on its buds and young leaves. Other names include yellow oak, dyer's oak and quercitron.

In gardens it usually reaches 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 m) tall, with a similar spread. Wild trees in the north may grow to 80 feet (24 m), and some exceed 100 feet (30 m). Young trees have a pyramidal outline. With age the crown becomes rounded, open and irregular. The trunk can reach 3 feet (0.9 m) across. Growth is slow to moderate, and trees can live about 200 years.

Mature bark is nearly black and cut into furrows and blocky plates. The inner bark is yellow to orange and once supplied a yellow dye. Twigs are stout, and the large terminal buds are angular, pale and fuzzy. The glossy, leathery leaves grow 4 to 10 inches (10 to 25 cm) long. Each has five to nine pointed lobes ending in small bristles. Sun leaves have deeper gaps between the lobes than shade leaves. In autumn the foliage turns yellow-brown, dull red or orange-brown.

The tree is monoecious and wind pollinated. Male flowers hang in yellow-green catkins 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long. Female flowers sit in short spikes. Flowering happens in spring, from about March in the south to May in the north. The rounded acorns measure 1/2 to 3/4 inch (1.5 to 2 cm). A scaly, fringed cap covers about half of each nut. Acorns take two years to ripen. Trees begin bearing at about 20 years and crop well every two or three years.

Black oak does best in full sun and moist, rich, acidic, well-drained soil. It also copes with dry, poor, sandy, rocky or clay ground. It is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9 and rated H6 in the UK. A deep taproot makes older trees hard to move, so plant them young. Use it as a shade tree for large lawns, parks and streets, or in naturalised areas. It feeds many moths, butterflies, birds and mammals. The timber goes into furniture and flooring.

Serious problems are rare, though many pests and diseases can occur. Diseases include oak wilt, anthracnose, cankers, leaf spots, powdery mildew and honey fungus. Pests include borers, scale, leaf miners, gall wasps, lace bugs, caterpillars and gypsy moth. Nut weevils and acorn moths damage the crop. Chlorosis can appear where the soil is not acid enough. The acorns are edible once their bitter tannins are leached out. Eaten raw or in excess, the tannins can cause stomach pain and other digestive upset. The RHS lists the tree as harmful to dogs if eaten.