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.

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, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Naturalized Areas, Wildlife Gardens,  Privacy Screen, and Shade Tree.

COMPANION PLANTS: Magnolia, Burning Bush, Crape Myrtle

IMAGES: (Form) Woodlot at English Wikipedia, Quercus virginiana 2010, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Acorns) KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS, Quercus virginiana—acorns, CC BY-SA 4.0 (With Spanish Moss) Brian Stansberry, Washington-oak-hampton-sc1, CC BY 3.0