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Gerald L. Klingaman
Fagaceae
Quercus virginiana
Live Oak
A classic of old landscapes in the American South, live oak is an evergreen shade tree that matures to a massive size. This native of the southeastern and south-central United States and Mexico is slow-growing and develops a very broad spreading canopy that often becomes laced with strands of epiphytic Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides). When young, its bark is red-brown but becomes darker and develops a blocky texture as it ages. Its shiny, linear leaves are rich olive to dark green, and old leaves will drop in the spring to make way for new. The small acorns of live oak appear in fall and are eaten by wildlife.
The majestic live oak grows its best and most steadfast in full sun, withstanding most soil types that aren't too alkaline and prefers average drainage. It will be deciduous in colder parts of its winter hardiness range. It is tolerant of pollution, salt, and soil compaction. In the landscape it is best grown as a massive shade tree for naturalistic landscapes, parks and large yards. It's quite resilient to tropical storm winds until soils become water saturated or the sprawling weight of the massive branches are too much for the trunk or roots to support.
Spanish and ball moss do not harm this tree, as they are neither fungus nor parasite. Only when a tree is aged, or stressed by disease or drought might the sheer weight of these epiphytic bromeliads cause branch breakage. Thick clumps of Spanish moss may cause shading of lower branches to detriment once the sick tree has already been weakened.
Live oak is in the white oak group (section Quercus), so its leaf tips are rounded rather than pointed and its acorns have knobby rather than imbricate caps.
11 - 6
8 - 11
H1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Tree
Full Sun, Partial Sun
40'-80' / 12.2m - 24.4m (60)
60'-100' / 18.3m - 30.5m (80)
Spring, Late Spring
Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Acidic, Neutral
Average
Clay, Loam, Sand
Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction
Very Slow
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Spreading
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Insignificant
Yellow Green
Brown, Black
Olive, Dark Green
Red, Brown, Chocolate
No
Yes
Medium
Glossy
Fissured
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Birds
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