Black Oak Tree

Basic Information
Tree ID: 
197
Family: 
Fagaceae/Beech
Genus and species: 
Quercus Velutina
Description: 
Black oak, also scientifically known as Quercus velutina, is a deciduous tree known for its dark, rough bark. Its leaves are lobed with pointed tips. The leaves are glossy green in summer but turn yellow, orange, or reddish-brown in fall. The tree produces acorns. These provide an important food source for wildlife, including squirrels, deer, and birds. Black oak trees have strong root systems and are well-adapted to dry, rocky soils (Sander 1990).
Surveyors: 
Caroline McCurdy and Rebekah Alemayehu
Location
Area: 
Marsh and Farnam Gardens
Collected Data
Tree shape: 
Rounded
Date of tree entry: 
04/19/2026
Height: 
14.20 m
Diameter at breast height: 
0.71 m

Bark
Black oak bark is gray and relatively smooth on young trees but becomes very dark gray to nearly black with age, developing deep ridges and furrows. The bark breaks into irregular blocky plates. A key identifying feature is the inner bark, which is yellow to orange in color.
Twigs & branches
Twigs are stout and reddish-brown to gray, often slightly hairy when young and smoother with age. The terminal buds are clustered at the ends of twigs, relatively large, sharply pointed, and covered with downy or velvety hairs. This clustered bud arrangement is characteristic of oaks and helps distinguish them from other trees.
Foilage
Leaves are simple, alternate, and highly variable in shape, typically 4–10 inches long with 5–7 lobes ending in bristle tips (a trait of the red oak group). The upper surface is dark green and often glossy, while the underside is paler with a fuzzy or velvety texture, especially where veins meet. Sun leaves tend to have deeper lobes, while shade leaves are broader and less deeply cut. In fall, leaves turn yellow to yellow-brown.
Reproductive Structures
Black oak is monoecious, meaning it produces both male and female flowers on the same tree. Male flowers appear as hanging catkins, while female flowers are small and less noticeable. The fruit is an acorn, typically about ½–¾ inch long, oval-shaped, and partially enclosed by a scaly, fuzzy cup. Acorns take two growing seasons to mature and are an important food source for wildlife.
Fruit
The fruit is an acorn, a type of nut. Acorns are food for small game animals and are used to fatten swine and poultry. Acorns of some species can be made into a flour for human consumption.
Seasons
Research
Habitat: 
Black oak trees thrive in well-drained, sandy or rocky soils, preferring areas with full sunlight. You can commonly find them in upland forests, hillsides, and dry environments. The black oak succeeds in these conditions thanks to its deep roots and tolerance for less fertile soils, making it successful in areas such as parts of the Yale campus.
Origin, history, and uses: 
Black oak is native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and grows naturally in forests and open woodlands. Black oak also has many human uses, including for furniture, flooring, construction materials, and firewood. The tree also plays an important ecological role. It supports wildlife and contributes to forest ecosystems.
 
Phenology: 
Black oak is a deciduous tree, shedding its leaves annually. Flowering occurs in spring (April–May) as new leaves emerge. Acorns mature over two growing seasons and are typically shed in late summer to early fall, with germination occurring the following spring. Leaf color changes in fall to yellow or brown before dropping.
References: 

Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Oak.” Accessed April 19, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/plant/oak

Morton Arboretum. “Black Oak (Quercus velutina).” Accessed April 19, 2026. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/black-oak/

Thomas, Laurie, and Darren Morris. Landowners Guide to Identification and Characteristics: Black Oak (Quercus velutina). Lexington: University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, 2022. 

Sander IL. 1990. Quercus velutina Lam. black oak. Silvics of North America. 2:744–750.

Gedney, J. (2019). Black Oak. Natureinnovato.com; Nature in Novato. https://share.google/B0bdryrBVmuzkmNj

Minter, M. (2010, June 30). Black Oak. JNI Knowledgebase. https://kb.jniplants.com/black-oak-quercus-velutina 

Shrub Canopy Area: 
0.37sq.m.