Water Oak Tree
The Water Oak Tree is a very popular shade tree in the South as a city tree, because it can grow to 90ft. tall, with a trunk 3 ft. thick. The tree is known to readily hybridize with several other oak species though a mechanism called "introgression"- reaching distant oak tree plantings through wind pollination of the flowers to form acorns. The spatula shaped leaves are bright green and almost evergreen, and some green leaves of the Water Oak Tree remain attached to lower branches throughout the winter months. The tree is adaptable to most wet locations.

The leaves of the Water Oak can turn golden yellow during winter freezes, and at age 50 or more the Water Oak Tree becomes susceptible to wind damage and the invasion of insects and disease after rot begins in untreated limb breakage wounds. The Water Oak Tree is a fast growing shade tree and normally will grow about 8 feet per year until it reaches a height of 50-60 feet. The bark of the tree is smooth and grey-brown and black with maturity.