Water Oak Tree

Quercus nigra

$104⁹⁹

In Stock
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Plant Size

#3 Container 2-3 Feet

Product variants

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Water Oak Tree highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Quercus nigra
Growing Zones

6-10
Mature Height

50 - 70 feet
Mature Spread

30 - 40 feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun
Soil

Widely Adaptable
Flower Color

Green
Fall Color

Yellow
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Bloom Period

Early Spring

Growing Zones 6-10

Find Your Growing Zone!

Fast Growing Shade Tree

It's not often that you find a shade tree that is fast growing, has a beautiful shape and a rich history to boot. The Water Oak tree (Quercus nigra, also known as Spotted oak or Possum oak) is that tree. Used for generations as street and shade trees in the South, Water Oaks are easy care and long lasting if they are planted in a place they like.

This deciduous tree is fast growing and it starts producing acorns before its 10th year. This means that it will attract wildlife to your garden by giving strong branches to nest in and food to forage. Found in the wild along streams and low ground (hence the name Water Oak), this tree is ok with moist soil. It is a tall tree with a slender trunk that looks great in the landscape. Quercus nigra is hardy to zone 6 but is frost tender, so choose the planting spot wisely. Once established, this oak will last for years.

Even though it can grow in semi-shade (like in light woodland in the wild) it prefers full sun. It can handle strong winds without a problem, but doesn't like coastal conditions with too much salt air and steady seabreeze.

If you have the right place, this tree will be a jewel in your garden or landscape.