Water Oak

Common Names: Water oak, potted oak, duck oak, punk oak, orange oak, possum oak
Latin Names: Quercus nigra
Type: Tree
Origin: Native

Edible: The acorns can be eaten and this was a staple food for Native Americans. The seed is dried, ground into a powder and used in stews as a thickener or to make bread. The seed is full of bitter tannins so it must be leached (soaked in running water) either as a seed or in the powder form. The seed can be roasted and used as a coffee.

Other uses: Acorns eaten by animals. Wood is used and normally sold as red oak or used as a fuel.

Note: It is a red oak. The water oak has a variety of leaf shapes that are said to depend on the age of the tree, amount of sunlight, and soil. We have at least a couple of different leaf shapes.

Water oak (April)

Water oak (April)

Water oak (April)

Water oak (May)

Water oak (April)

Water oak (April)