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Black oak identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
Black oak, Quercus velutina, is a native tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Alternate, simple leaves with lobes. Leaves 4 to 10 inches long with 5 to 7 bristle-tipped lobes; deeply cut in the sun, barely lobed in the shade; glossy on top. Bark: Nearly black, thick and very rough with deep furrows and cross breaks; the inner bark is yellow. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify black oak
| Leaf type | Alternate, simple leaves with lobes |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Leaves 4 to 10 inches long with 5 to 7 bristle-tipped lobes; deeply cut in the sun, barely lobed in the shade; glossy on top. |
| Bark | Nearly black, thick and very rough with deep furrows and cross breaks; the inner bark is yellow. |
| Fruit | Acorns 1/2 to 3/4 inch long with a bowl cap whose scales are loose at the edge. |
| Twigs | Stout red-brown to gray-green twigs. |
| Size and shape | Up to about 80 feet with an irregular crown. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is black oak native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists black oak as native to Pennsylvania.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like black oak
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Northern red oak Quercus rubra | Alternate, simple leaves with lobes. Leaves 5 to 8 inches long with 7 to 11 bristle-tipped lobes; the notches only go a third to half way to the midrib. |
| Scarlet oak Quercus coccinea | Alternate, simple leaves with lobes. Leaves 3 to 7 inches long with very deep notches and bristle-tipped lobes; shiny green. |
| Southern red oak Quercus falcata | Alternate, simple leaves with lobes. Leaves 5 to 9 inches long with bristle-tipped lobes: either 3 shallow lobes or 5 to 7 deeper ones, often like a turkey foot. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Other oaks in Pennsylvania
White oak (Quercus alba), Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor), Bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia), Shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria), Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii), Chestnut oak (Quercus montana), Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii), Pin oak (Quercus palustris), Willow oak (Quercus phellos), Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii), Post oak (Quercus stellata), English oak (Quercus robur), Sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima).
Questions
How do you identify black oak?
Look for alternate, simple leaves with lobes. Leaves 4 to 10 inches long with 5 to 7 bristle-tipped lobes; deeply cut in the sun, barely lobed in the shade; glossy on top. Bark: Nearly black, thick and very rough with deep furrows and cross breaks; the inner bark is yellow.
Is black oak native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists black oak as native to Pennsylvania.
How big does black oak get?
Up to about 80 feet with an irregular crown.
How can you tell black oak in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Stout red-brown to gray-green twigs. Bark: Nearly black, thick and very rough with deep furrows and cross breaks; the inner bark is yellow.
What tree looks like black oak?
Northern red oak, Scarlet oak, Southern red oak. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Quercus velutina fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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