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Flaigg, Norman G.
Quercus virginiana P. Mill.
Coastal live oak, Southern live oak, Live oak
Fagaceae (Beech Family)
USDA Symbol: quvi
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
An open-grown live oak is a massive, picturesque, wide-spreading tree with magnificent horizontal and arching branches that form a broad, rounded canopy. A squat, tapering trunk (larger in diameter than that of any other oak) supports the huge, irregular limbs which often rest their elbows on the ground. Dimensions are 40-80 ft. in height and 60-100 ft. in width. Dark-green, waxy, unlobed leaves fall just as new leaves emerge in the spring, making the tree appear evergreen, though the coordinated leaf loss means its not actually a true evergreen.
This is the familiar Spanish moss-covered oak of plantations in southeastern North America. Its massive limbs and persistent, glossy foliage have sustained its popularity as a residential shade tree to the present day. It is rarely found inland except in cultivation, where it becomes semi-deciduous and slower growing than those that receive the moisture-laden winds of the coast. Adequate water is essential to maintaining this tree, though it is fairly drought-tolerant once established within its range. It is, however, quite susceptible to oak wilt where that is a problem, so treating surface wounds and avoiding damage to the roots is important. Though this is the best known live oak, there are a few North American live oak species also popular in residential landscaping, including on the West Coast, California Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia Née), and, in southern Oklahoma, central Texas, and northeastern Mexico, Escarpment Live Oak (Q. fusiformis Small), sometimes regarded as a mere variety of Q. virginiana but currently considered a distinct species. Escarpment live oak has slightly smaller leaves, broadest toward the base, and acorns with cups narrowed at the base (fusiform). It is more drought-tolerant than Q. virginiana and is commonly planted in drier parts of Texas. Both Q. virginiana and Q. fusiformis may send up dense shoots near or far from the trunk from rhizomes, sometimes so thickly that when mowed it looks like a groundcover.
View herbarium specimen from Harry T. Cliffe Bexar Regional Herbarium.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Class: 36-72 ft.
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Obovate
Leaf Venation: Pinnately Veined
Leaf Margin: Entire
Leaf Apex: Acute , Rounded
Leaf Base: Cordate , Cuneate , Rounded
Breeding System: Monoecious
Inflorescence: Catkin
Fruit Type: Nut
Size Notes: Normally 40-50 ft tall, but can reach 80 ft.
Leaf Color: Green
Flower Size: 2-3 inches long
Fruit Length: 1/3 to 1/2 inch acorns
Fruit Color: Dark brown
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , TX , VANative Distribution: Coastal areas from s.e. VA to FL, w. to e. TX
Native Habitat: Sandy, coastal plains; moist hammocks
USDA Native Status: L48(N)
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: None
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Dry to moist soils, whether gravelly, sandy, loamy or clay, but does best in neutral or slightly acidic clay loams; poor drainage okay. Saline tolerant and tolerant of compaction.
Conditions Comments: The species tolerates more shade in summer than most oaks because the evergreen leaves can function through most of the winter. Can be damaged by long periods of freezing weather. Fairly drought tolerant once established, but susceptible, among other things, to oak wilt and chestnut blight.
Texas comments: As the species is currently most commonly defined, i.e. as Q. virginiana not including Q. fusiformis, its natural range in Texas is limited to forested east and southeast Texas, mainly near the coast, but it is a popular landscaping tree in residential areas throughout the state.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: A very large, long-lived, evergreen shade tree.Use Wildlife: Many species of birds as well as squirrels use the tree for cover and the acorns for food.
Use Medicinal: The Houma used some preparation from it to treat dysentery.
Use Other: Live oak timber was once important for building ships. The nations first publicly owned timber lands were purchased as early as 1799 to preserve these trees for this purpose.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Horaces Duskywing, White M hairstreak, Northern hairstreak.
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Quercus virginiana is a larval host and/or nectar source for:|
White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album)  Larval Host |
Consular oakworm moth (Anisota consularis)  Larval Host |
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsDescription: Oaks are most often propagated from seed. No pretreatment is necessary. Plant immediately – outdoors or in deep containers to accommodate long initial taproot. Protect outdoor beds with wire mesh to deter rodent predation.
Seed Collection: Best quality acorns are picked or shaken from the tree. Collect when color has changed to brown. Best if sown immediately as acorns lose viability quickly in storage. Short-term storage in moist, shaded saw dust or sand.
Seed Treatment: Acorns to be sown immediately can be soaked in hot water for 15 min. to prevent weevil infestation. Stored seed should be fumigated with methyl bromide.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Prevent complete soil dryness. Prune to maintain shape. May be pruned 12 mo. out of the year. Fertilize 3 times a year with lawn fertilizer 3:1:2 ratio. Young trees grow quickly and need to be trained if their natural tendency to sprawl is unwelcome.
PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants
Quercus virginiana (Live oak) is a PlantWise native alternative for:Find Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Question: Hello,
I planted a couple texas live oak two years ago in South Austin. They're about 5 feet tall. How long will it take for them to mature?
Thanks
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Question: I've heard eucalyptus trees do not lose their leaves in the winter and grow considerably tall. I want to replace a decaying pine tree with a eucalyptus tree. Do you recommend that for the Spring, TX area climate.
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Question: I'm looking for a tree for a cemetery plot in Karnes County at Pana Maria. There will be someone to regularly water it. I understand live oak and pecan are native to the area. I assume these would be good trees. But are there any other nice trees that would do well in the area based on size, longevity, looks or appropriateness for a cemetery?
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Question: My neighbor has a young oak tree in his front yard. It has small leaves and round acorns and once a year sprouts shoot up at its base. The neighbor was kind enough to let me dig some up to try to transplant them. After digging I discovered that the shoots are not individual plants but grew in the dirt from the root system. I did cut one loose leaving approximately 12-14 inches of the root still attached to what should turn into a trunk. I don't know if it will grow. Do you have any idea if they are transplantable, now that I have tried it? If it will grow, do you have any idea what kind of oak it is? If it won't grow, what kind of oak would you recommend if I want a very large umbrella shade and preferably a faster growing one. I don't care if the leaves are large or small. I would appreciate any information you have. Thanks very much.
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From the National Suppliers Directory
According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Native Plant Nursery - Sanibel, FL
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Bibliography
Dale Groom's Texas Gardening Guide (2002) Groom, D.Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski and Wasowski
* How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest: Revised and Updated Edition (2001) Nokes, J.
Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Recommended Species Lists
Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.
View Recommended Species pageAdditional resources
USDA: Find Quercus virginiana in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Quercus virginiana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Quercus virginiana
Metadata
Record Modified: 2010-01-21Research By: TWC Staff, GDG
