Black Oak (Quercus velutina) is a large shade tree with bark that is smooth and gray on younger trees, becoming a blackish color with age, thick and rough, and deeply furrowed into ridges.
 
The leaves are shiny green above and yellow-green underneath with brown hair, and turn dull red or brown in the fall.Mature trees produce large crops of acorns every 2 to 3 years.
 
Black oak can be found growing on dry upland sandy and rocky ridges and slopes. It prefers dry acidic soils and full sun to part shade. It does not do well in sites with poor drainage.
 
These trees are butterfly hosts, and attract songbirds, ground birds and mammals. The wood is used for flooring.