​Black oak is in the red oak group, native to eastern North America and is a common tree in well-drained, moist soils or relatively dry, upland, sandy ecosystems. The black oaks found in the northern region tend to be smaller than the oaks that grow toward the south. The buds are velvety and covered in white hairs. The acorns are round, and the caps cover about half of the actual acorn. The leaves of the black oak are larger and glossier than those of the northern red oak. Black oaks can produce seeds from about age 20, and its prime producing years range from 40 to 75 years.