Scientific Name
Quercus velutina ‘Black Oak’
Black oak is another sizable member of the red oak group. Its bristle-tipped leaves can sometimes be mistaken for those of northern red oak, though they are usually more deeply lobed. When in doubt, one reliable way to tell them apart is by the buds, which on black oak are woolly and pale yellow-gray. The bark on mature trees is also more blocky than that of northern red oak. If acorns are present, black oak’s caps cover nearly half the nut, while red oak acorns have caps that sit lightly on top, almost like a beret.
Black oak is native to much of the eastern United States, excluding Florida and the Gulf Coast, and does not extend as far north as northern red oak, reaching only into southern Ontario. In the southern part of its range it can grow quite tall, but in our region it is more likely to reach about 50 feet. It remains uncommon here, and there are currently no specimens on the Colorado champion list.
In fall, the foliage can turn an attractive maroon. Given its adaptability to a range of soils, along with its cold hardiness and heat tolerance, it is somewhat surprising that black oak has not seen wider use in urban forestry.