Live Oak Quercus virginiana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KWER-kus vir-jin-ee-AN-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Live Oak is a medium-sized showy long-lived evergreen tree that may grow 40 to 80 feet tall. It is found in the coastal plains of VA, NC and southward along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It has a broad crown, rarely grows over 50 feet tall with gnarled branches reaching out to 40 to 100 feet wide, often seen with Spanish moss hanging from them. It is not a true evergreen but retains its leaves until the new ones begin to leaf out.
The tree has alternate leaves with smooth or spiny margins and pale, hairy undersides. The bark in young trees is characterized by red-brown furrows with small surface scales. As the tree ages, the bark becomes black and very blocky. In spring, cylindrical, male flowers and female spikes mature. The tree produces a 3/4-inch acorn with a warty cap that covers about 1/3 of the nut. The acorn requires one growing season to reach maturity.
It makes a magnificent shade tree for large areas with a broad spreading canopy. It is adaptable to both clay and sandy soils that are acidic and well-drained and can handle periodic flooding and salt spray. It is quite wind-resistant.
It is a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis), as well as numerous butterflies, including Banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Edward's hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), White-m hairstreak (Parrhasius malbum), Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius), and Juvenalis duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis).
Fire Risk: This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This is a relatively problem-free tree. Insect galls may damage foliage appearance but do not affect the health of the tree. Root rot and oak wilt can be a problem.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leathery leaves with downy undersides
- oak with laurel-like leaves & revolute margins
VIDEO: Part of the Native Plant Picks series from the North Carolina Sea Grant led Coastal Landscapes Initiative.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Coastal Shade Garden Coastal Foundation Garden A Sampling of Shade Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is used for barrels, veneer, cabinetry, furniture, interior trim, and flooring and also has been used for pulp and firewood. It was used in ship construction especially in the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States, Mexico
- Distribution:
- SE Coastal Plain of United States, from Southeastern Virginia southward to Florida, and westward to eastern Texas.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. It's acorn are eaten by woodpeckers, blue jays, small mammals, wild turkeys and ducks.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This tree is resistant to damage by deer.
- Edibility:
- Acorns can be eaten after the tannin has been leached or boiled out.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 0.75- 1-inch egg-shaped acorns on long stalks are produced singly or in up to clusters of 5 and have bowl-shaped caps with tiny sharp-pointed scales covering 1/3 of the nut. Fruits are available September-November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- The male flowers are drooping, elongated clusters with 1 to 5 on pendulous catkins. Flowers bloom in April.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Obtuse
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The alternate thick green leaves are 2-5 inches long and 0.8-1.5 inches wide, shiny on the upper surface and pale with gray tomentose hairs underneath. They are rounded to oblong to elliptic-obovate in shape with margins mostly entire but new growth and juvenile trees will have toothed margins. The base is round to subcordate to broad cuneate. The leaves last into winter.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- The bark is dark brown tinged with red and slightly furrowed
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Young twigs are tan to pale gray and covered in short hairs. Becomes darker and nearly smooth in the second year. Buds are dome-shaped, 1/4" long, and have reddish-brown scales.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Salt
- Storm damage
- Wet Soil
- Wind
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Stomach pain, constipation and later bloody diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination if the young leaves or raw acorns are eaten.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Seeds
