Live Oak
Quercus virginiana
Live oak is a massive, sprawling evergreen oak of the American South, famous for wide spreading limbs draped in Spanish moss and an extremely strong, dense wood.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Low once established; drought tolerant
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Live oak (Quercus virginiana) is an iconic evergreen oak of the southeastern United States, named "live" because it keeps its leaves year-round rather than dropping them in fall. It is the quintessential tree of Southern landscapes, lining avenues and shading old plantation homes.
Though not especially tall, it is enormous in spread, with horizontal limbs that can extend far wider than the tree is high. Specimens can live for centuries.
Its wood is among the densest and strongest of all oaks and was historically prized for shipbuilding.
How to identify it
A broad, low-branching evergreen oak with a massive rounded canopy.
- Leaves: small, leathery, oblong, dark glossy green above and pale below; mostly smooth-edged, unlike lobed northern oaks; evergreen, dropping only as new growth emerges in spring
- Habit: short trunk dividing into huge, twisting, near-horizontal limbs that spread very wide
- Acorns: small, dark, tapered, set in a shallow cap; borne in clusters
- Bark: dark brown to nearly black, furrowed and blocky
- Size: typically 15-20 m tall but often 25-45 m wide
- Often festooned with Spanish moss and resurrection fern
Care & growing
An exceptionally tough, long-lived shade tree for warm climates.
- Light: full sun
- Water: drought tolerant once established; deep but infrequent watering when young
- Soil: adaptable; tolerates sandy, clay, and even salty coastal soils
- Temperature: hardy in USDA zones 8-10; not cold-hardy in the north
- Feeding: little needed; benefits from mulch over the wide root zone
- Propagation: from fresh acorns sown in fall; needs ample room to spread
Habitat & origin
Native to the coastal plain of the southeastern U.S., from southeastern Virginia through Florida and west to Texas. It thrives in sandy soils near the coast and tolerates salt spray and hurricane winds well.
Widely planted as a street, park, and avenue tree throughout the Gulf and South Atlantic states, where its arching canopies form famous moss-draped allees.
Uses & benefits
- Shade and ornamental: premier shade tree for the South; majestic avenue and specimen tree
- Wildlife: acorns feed deer, turkeys, squirrels, and waterfowl; the canopy shelters many birds
- Historic timber: extremely dense, strong wood used for ship framing (notably the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides")
- Coastal stabilization: salt and wind tolerance make it valuable near coastlines
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called live oak if it's an oak that keeps its leaves?
The name refers to its evergreen habit. It stays green and "alive" through winter when deciduous oaks are bare, briefly shedding old leaves in spring as new ones appear.
How wide does a live oak get?
Spread often far exceeds height. Mature trees commonly stretch 25-45 m wide while standing only 15-20 m tall.
How long do live oaks live?
They are very long-lived, with many specimens surviving several centuries; some famous trees are estimated at over 1,000 years old.
Is the Spanish moss harmful to the tree?
No. Spanish moss is an epiphyte that grows on the branches for support but does not parasitize the oak or draw nutrients from it.
Live Oak guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Live Oak.
