Live Oak
Quercus virginiana
Deciduous TreeAbout Live Oak
Live Oak is a majestic, wide-spreading evergreen oak iconic to the coastal Southeast, often draped with Spanish moss. It is extremely wind-resistant, making it a valued tree in hurricane-prone areas. Some specimens are hundreds of years old with massive, spreading canopies broader than the tree is tall.
Quick Facts
How to Identify Live Oak
- Leathery, dark green, unlobed evergreen leaves with smooth or slightly rolled margins
- Broad, spreading crown often wider than the tree is tall
- Dark, deeply furrowed bark
- Small, elongated acorns on long stalks
- Massive, horizontal limbs that may touch the ground
Care Guide
- Water deeply during extended drought, especially when young
- Prune in late winter; live oaks handle heavy pruning well
- Paint pruning wounds in areas with oak wilt to prevent beetle transmission
- Allow adequate space for the massive spreading canopy
- Avoid disturbing the root zone with construction or soil compaction
Known Issues (2)
Oak Wilt
CRITICALA lethal fungal disease that affects all oak species, with red oaks dying within weeks of infection. It spreads through root grafts between neighboring oaks and via sap-feeding beetles. White oaks are more resistant but not immune.
Affecting 18 regions
Sudden Oak Death
MODERATEA water mold disease that has killed millions of oaks and tanoaks along the Pacific coast since the mid-1990s. It also infects over 100 other plant species that can serve as carriers, including rhododendron and bay laurel.
Affecting 2 regions