The 14 Oak Species of the Lake Wales Ridge

3. Quercus nigra

Known as Water Oak, Quercus nigra are abundant acorn producers, which offers benefit to wildlife. A good tree for the landscape, Water Oak has a spreading, rounded, open canopy. They are semi-evergreen.

7. Leaf blades broader towards the apex and much narrower towards the base, often somewhat lobed with the margins not evenly rounded nor straight on some parts. 8. Leaf blades glabrous to glabrate on the lower surface, or only pubescent in the vein axils. Leaf blades 1.5-2.5 times longer than wide

Water Oak as observed in fire-maintained area near Lake Arbuckle.

“I am so glad for Three Psilos, Inc. They have taken control of our Cogongrass infestation, and even treated for Rosary Pea, which we didn’t even know we had! They worked hard to remove invasives from our forest.” Tarisa – Frostproof, FL
Water Oak herbarium specimen collected by the Jennings about 8 miles southwest of Fort Meade.

Landscaping Uses

Water Oak are recommended for buffer strips around parking lots or for median strip plantings in the highway; reclamation plant; shade tree; residential street tree; tree has been successfully grown in urban areas where air pollution, poor drainage, compacted soil, and/or drought are common.

Water Oak is easy to confuse with Myrtle Oak, but Myrtle Oak leaves curl under at the edge. Water Oak leaves are more flat.