Start growing
Slow growing; needs full sun and space. Long taproot.
GROW SOMETHING WONDERFUL
Black Oak
Quercus velutina
Your guide to planting, growing, and getting to know this plant.
THE PLANT NOTEBOOK
Black Oak care, from seed onward.
- Botanical name
- Quercus velutina
- Common names
- Yellow Oak, Quercitron
- Family
- Fagaceae
- Genus
- Quercus
- Species
- Q. velutina
Growing with your kit
Acorns are massive! The Seeds In A Cup® clear planter lets kids see the 'radical' emerge from the shell in detail.
Propagation
By acorns (sow immediately).
Seasonal growth & harvest
Produces large acorns with fringed cups; fall leaves turn dull red or brown.
Growing conditions
Dry, sandy, or gravelly slopes.
Weather & tolerances
Highly drought tolerant once established.
Pests & plant health
Oak wilt and gypsy moth caterpillars.
Plant safety
Safe; acorns require leaching of tannins if intended for human consumption.
Botanical features
A large deciduous tree. Inner bark is bright yellow-orange and very bitter.
Varieties
Standard native species.
Garden & everyday uses
Yellow inner bark once used for high-quality dye (Quercitron). timber used for furniture and flooring
Native range & distribution
Eastern and Central United States.
Conservation
Secure.
Name origins
Latin ‘velutina’ meaning velvety, referring to the fuzzy young leaves and buds.
History
A critical source of yellow pigment for the early American textile industry.