As with all oaks this is an important wildlife tree. It is the larval host for tons of moths and butterflies and the acorns are food for many different types of mammals and birds. Common name comes from the very dark bark when it reaches maturity. This is a large shade tree growing 80 feet tall on average. Foliage is a dark green with the classic lobed leaves of the oaks. With its large native range this is a good choice for most landscapes. It grows best in full sun in average well drained soils but is very tolerant of poor and dry soils. Best to plant in its permanent home right away because of its long tap root it is hard to transplant. Flowers are mostly insignificant with the male flowers being brownish yellow catkins and the female flowers yellow green short spikes.