Quercus virginiana

Live Oak

Size

Live Oak is a large, long-lived native deciduous tree with a short trunk, low branches, and broad rounded crown.  The long leathery dark green foliage is nearly evergreen and only drops once new leaves are ready to replace them.  Acorns with a scale a cap that covers 1/3 of the acorn are ripe within one season.  Best grown in full sun and rich, moist, acidic well-drained soils.  Spanish Moss often grows on Live Oak.

Type: 

Tree

Height: 

40’ - 80’

Spread: 

60’ - 100’

Spacing: 

80’

USDA Hardiness Zone: 

8 - 10

Culture: 

Full SunPart Sun

Bloom Color: 

Green

Season of Interest:

Year-Round

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Low Maintenance.  Root rot may be an issue in coastal areas, while Oak wilt is a serious issue in some areas.  Insect gall may damage foliage appearance.  

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, BordersWoodland GardensNaturalized AreasWildlife Gardens Privacy Screen, and Shade Tree.

COMPANION PLANTS: MagnoliaBurning BushCrape Myrtle

IMAGES: (Form) Woodlot at English WikipediaQuercus virginiana 2010CC BY-SA 3.0 (Acorns) KATHERINE WAGNER-REISSQuercus virginiana—acornsCC BY-SA 4.0 (With Spanish Moss) Brian StansberryWashington-oak-hampton-sc1CC BY 3.0