Quercus virginiana
A large, long-lived evergreen oak native to the southeastern United States with a broad-spreading crown and massive limbs often draped with Spanish moss, providing extensive shade and very heavy, strong wood once used in shipbuilding.
Common Names
Live Oak, Southern Live Oak, Virginia Live Oak, Southeastern Live Oak, Chêne Vert
Summary
Quercus virginiana Mill., commonly called Live Oak, is a large Southeastern United States coastal‑plain tree with a very broad, sprawling crown that can reach up to about 150 feet in width and 40–80 feet in height; it has a single trunk and long, arching branches; leaves are leathery and glossy dark green, persisting year‑round to give an evergreen appearance, though some forms are briefly deciduous in spring; flowers are inconspicuous and wind‑pollinated, and acorns mature in a single season, serving as wildlife forage; the wood is extremely hard and dense, historically prized for shipbuilding and heavy timber, and branches often host epiphytes such as Spanish moss, contributing to a distinctive Southern landscape; it tolerates a wide range of soils and moisture conditions, including salt spray, and is notably wind‑resistant with drought tolerance once established; it is commonly used as an ornamental and shade tree in coastal landscapes and restoration projects; propagation is typically via acorns, though cuttings and root suckers are also used; it can sprout from the root collar after damage or fire and may form clonal growth; in landscape use, it provides shade and wildlife habitat, supports wildlife that feed on acorns, and its historic wood use is a notable cultural feature, while management should consider threats from oak wilt and various cankers.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
40-80 feet
Spread
60-100 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 7-10
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full Sun; tolerates partial sun and partial shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained loam or sandy soils, slightly acidic to neutral pH
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
4.5-7.3, tolerates acidic to neutral soils
Bloom Color
Yellow
Bloom Time
Spring (early spring), March through May
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
No color change
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Fast-growing, 2-2.5 feet per year
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Propagation Methods
Seeds and Cuttings
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts birds and butterflies, Bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators: Not specified
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Mill.
- Publication
- Gard. Dict. ed. 8 : n.º 16 (1768)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Fagales
- Family
- Fagaceae
- Genus
- Quercus
- Subgenus
- Quercus subgen. Quercus
- Section
- Quercus sect. Virentes
Synonyms
Quercus andromeda Quercus phellos var. obtusifolia Quercus sempervirens Quercus virens Quercus virginiana var. eximea Quercus virginiana var. virescens Quercus virginiana f. virescens Quercus virginiana f. virginiana Quercus virginiana var. typica Quercus phellos var. sempervirens Dryopsila virens Quercus virginiana var. virginiana Quercus hemisphaerica