Live oak can tolerate cold extremes in the Piedmont but not in the mountains where it grows slowly and commonly suffers from ice storm damage. Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer. Note: Chemical control of diseases and insects on large trees is usually not feasible since adequate foliage coverage with a pesticide cannot be achieved. They are small, brown, and pollinated by wind in the spring. Has Evergreen to Partly Deciduous foliage. Ornamental Features Debbie Shaughnessy, Former HGIC Information Specialist, Clemson UniversityBob Polomski, PhD, Extension Consumer Horticulturist, Clemson University, Mark Arena, Specialty Crop Agent, Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson University. Train trees to grow a central leader by eliminating young multiple trunks and branches.

It prefers full sun but tolerates more shade than other oaks because its leaves function throughout winter. However, in the forest, it stands more erect, growing to 100 feet tall. Live oaks (Quercus virginiana) are some of the most recognized native trees in South Carolina.Karen Russ, ©HGIC, Clemson Extension. Growth Habit: Evergreen woody perennial tree, slow to moderate growth rate when young to moderate with age to 40 feet with greater spread. Photo Locations: BioPark Botanic Garden - Albuquerque, NM and The Living Desert - Palm Desert, CA.

1995-2020. The California Polytechnic State University and the Cal Poly Corporation shall not be responsible for any loss of profit, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of the use of the data and information derived from this web site. The growth rate also slows with age. Shading Capacity Rated as Moderate in Leaf. Highrise® – This was the first patented cultivar of live oak. Leaves Elliptic to Ovate, Dark Green, No Change, Evergreen to Partly Deciduous. The naval vessel U.S.S. This semi-evergreen tree is visually similar to Quercus virginiana (and used to be considered a variety of Q. virginiana) but is more drought, cold, and heat tolerant. Salinity Tolerance is Good Inland and Good to Moderate on Coast. The small (1 inch) acorns, produced in clusters of one to five, are dark brown to black when ripe, and are a primary food for many wildlife species along the coast. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. or more per year, it is one of the faster growing oak trees. They may reach close to their maximum trunk diameter within 70 years. Unlike most oak trees, which are deciduous, southern live oaks are nearly evergreen. Search, discover, and learn about wildlife. Rake up and dispose of or burn dropped foliage to reduce the severity of this disease the following year. If you would like to see this tree listed, or know of a nursery that sells it, please contact us at ufei@calpoly.edu. Trees grown outside the coastal region will grow more slowly. Texas live oak has a wide range of growth habits that are related to cline. More than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. The live oak is probably best known for its massive horizontal limbs that give older trees their majestic appearance. In 4 seconds, you will be redirected to nwfactionfund.org, the site of the National Wildlife Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) organization. Has Evergreen to Partly Deciduous foliage. These trees grow in the wild, but they’re also popular ornamental plants with many southerners. Millennium Oak® – This cultivar has the traditional, picturesque growth of live oak and has a predictable growth rate and habit. The National Wildlife Federation is providing resources to help families and caregivers across the country provide meaningful educational opportunities and safe outdoor experiences for children during these incredibly difficult times. * No warranties or guarantees as to the accuracy of the data and information derived from this web site are expressed or implied. Live oak acorns are brown to black when ripe.Lindsay Caesar, Horticulture Department, Clemson University. Acorns fall in autumn and serve as a food source for many animals. Form & Character: Texas live oak is wide spreading and has a strong, stately, rugged character, spiritual, permanent. The oldest live oaks in the country are estimated to be between several hundred to more than a thousand years old. Tree Characteristics. Specimen, Shade Tree, Wildlife Tree, Street Tree, Screen. Has separate male and female reproductive parts on the same tree (monoecious). As their scientific name (Quercus virginiana) suggests, southern live oaks are found in Virginia, and continue south to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma. Quercus fusiformis is in the White Oak section of the genus Quercus. Live oak leaves remain on the tree through the winter, then yellow and drop as new leaves expand in the spring. Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, University of Florida School of Forest Resources & Conservation, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Station. If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988. Trees grown outside the coastal region will grow more slowly. As one of the longest-lived oaks, some live oaks may live 200 to 300 years. Longevity Greater than 150 years. Although used extensively for street tree plantings, in time, the roots will lift sidewalks or streets if planted too close. It has a uniform, upright pyramidal growth habit with a mature height and spread of 30 to 40 feet by 12 to 18 feet, respectively. Several insect galls may become a minor problem, but control measures are generally not required for leaf insect galls. Live oak is susceptible to leaf blister, a fungal gall that disfigures leaves and may cause some leaf drop, but does no appreciable harm. < https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/quercus-fusiformis >. The waxy leaves are resistant to salt spray. Height: 20 - 50 feet. When grown in the South Carolina Piedmont, outside of their natural range, live oaks may be either injured or killed by cold temperatures. Live oak (Quercus virginiana) is one of the most well-known trees found in Southern landscapes. Flowers of the southern live oak aren’t bright and showy like those of some other trees. But Southern live oaks are confined to warm parts of the country because of their inability to survive freezing temperatures. Sun Preference Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. Acorns fall in autumn and serve as a food source for many animals. Growth Rate: 12 Inches per Year. This tree grows moderately fast in youth, and if properly located and maintained, may produce 2 to 2½ feet of growth per year. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC. The threatened Florida scrub jay relies on the scrub form of the southern live oak for nesting. Branches usually stem from a single trunk, which can grow to five or six feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) in diameter. Flowers of the southern live oak aren’t bright and showy like those of some other trees. Seaside Tolerance is Good to Medium in Mild Zone. All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. Southern live oaks grow well in salty soils and in shade, which makes them great competitors against other, less tolerant trees. Width: 20 - 40 feet. Native to South-Central United States, Mexico. Fortunately, there have been no documented cases of oak wilt on live oak, probably because the vast majority of live oaks are in the coastal counties. Southern live oaks are fast-growing trees, but their growth rate slows with age. Flowers in Spring.

Crowns of the largest southern live oaks reach diameters of 150 feet (45.7 meters)—nearly large enough to encompass half of a football field. Sweet, tapered acorns produced by the trees are eaten by birds and mammals, including sapsuckers, mallards, wild turkeys, squirrels, black bears, and deer. In an open landscape, they may reach approximately 40 to 80 feet tall and 60 to 100 feet wide. Live oak does well as a lawn specimen when provided plenty of space to grow. Susceptible to Insect Galls, Armillaria, Phytophthora, Live Oak Wilt, and Root Rot. Prune in mid-to-late summer to avoid oak wilt disease. Cathedral Oak™ – This cultivar has a pyramidal canopy when young that becomes broad to ovoid as it matures.