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Oak, Live
Quercus virginiana
Live Oak is not only a predominate icon of the Southern landscape, but a popular addition to many landscapes thanks to being fast growing, highly durable, and its longevity. It’s also resistant to salt spray, drought, and poor soil qualities. They are highly attractive found growing horizontally along the ground before reaching upward, however nearly all landscapers and homeowners choose a single, upright trunked specimen. Live Oak can also host other plants on its trunk and branches: ball moss, Spanish moss, mistletoe, and resurrection fern.
Although Live Oak is evergreen, it will heavily defoliate in the late winter when new foliage begins to emerge. Leaves are stiff and leathery, shiny dark green on top and pale gray on the underside. Green catkin flowers up to four inches in length appear in the spring, dumping pollen that is easily spread by the wind. Acorns vary in size, averaging one inch in length and are tan-brown until turning black in the fall.
The dark brown to black bark is thick and slightly furrowed, forming large alligator-scale bark plates as it ages. The wood is some of the heaviest of the oak family, commonly used for carpentry, fuel, and grilling.
Sprouts from the roots can become a nuisance; dense saplings can surround the main trunk, requiring constant pruning if you wish to avoid a clump of trees. A fungus has also been identified as the culprit in oak wilt disease, killing many live oaks that have grown in the countryside throughout Texas.
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Iconic Southern Tree |
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Year round Shade Tree |
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Large Landscape Speciman |
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Height60-80 Feet
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Spread45-50 Feet
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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a
Available Sizes:
| Item |
Description |
| OAK-LIV-05 |
#005 OAK, LIVE |
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| OAK-LIV-15 |
#015 OAK, LIVE |
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| OAK-LIV-200 |
#200 OAK, LIVE |
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| OAK-LIV-30 |
#030 OAK, LIVE |
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| OAK-LIV-45 |
#045 OAK, LIVE |
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| OAK-LIV-95 |
#095 OAK, LIVE |
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Characteristics & Attributes
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Deer Tolerance
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Exposure
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Habit
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Soil pH Preference
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Water Needs
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Texas Native
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