A dry soil oak with small acorns that can be planted in maintained landscapes with minimal ‘mess’. Prefers rich, well drained soils and full sun, but adapts to a wide variety of soils and young trees can take part shade.

Pollination: 2+ individuals needed.

Light: Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture: Mesic, Dry Mesic, Dry

Soil Type: Adapt

Height: 50’-80’

Width: 50’-80’

Bloom Color: -

Bloom Time: Apr-May

Fruit: Small acorns take two years to develop and mature in the fall of their second year.

Fall Color: Yellow, Red, Brown

Root Type: Taproot

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Like other oaks it hosts a wide variety of insects including multiple hairstreak butterflies, multiple duskywing skippers, dozens of moth species including the cecropia, treehoppers, leafhoppers, wasps, and beetles. Acorns are eaten by many animals including turkey, blue jays, bobwhite, woodpeckers, nuthatches, squirrels, and deer. Mature trees provide valuable habitat for cavity nesters and insect eating birds. 

Notes: Very similar to pin oak- think of black oak as pin oak’s dry soil alter ego. The yellow inner bark is rich in tannins and was once used to make yellow dye, particularly for leather.