Live Oak

The Live Oak Tree, most commonly referring to the Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), is a majestic and iconic evergreen hardwood tree, a true symbol of the American South. This remarkably long-lived perennial is native to the lower Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States, spanning from southeastern Virginia south to Florida (including the Keys) and west to southern and central Texas, with scattered populations extending into southwestern Oklahoma and northeastern Mexico. It thrives in humid, warm climates, often found in sandy soils, dry woods, moist rich woods, and is notably resistant to salt spray and high soil salinity, making it dominant in coastal barrier island woodlands. In the landscape of Phoenix, Arizona, while not native, it is a highly valued and successfully cultivated shade tree due to its drought tolerance and heat resilience once established. Live Oaks can live for hundreds of years, often 250-500 years, with some venerable specimens estimated to be over a thousand years old.

Its most distinctive characteristics include its massive, broad-spreading, and often dramatic horizontal limbs that can sweep down to the ground and then curve upward, creating an expansive, rounded crown that can spread 60-100 feet or more. The tree typically develops a short, stout trunk that can reach several feet in diameter. Unlike most oaks, the Southern Live Oak is nearly evergreen, retaining its leathery, dark green, elliptical to obovate leaves (2-5 inches long) throughout most of the year, replacing them over a short period in the spring. Its bark is grayish-brown and becomes deeply furrowed with age. In spring, it produces inconspicuous yellowish-green flowers. These are followed by small, oblong acorns (less than an inch long) that turn dark brown at maturity and are a vital food source for various wildlife. Renowned for its exceptional strength and density, Live Oak wood was historically prized for shipbuilding, earning it the nickname “Old Ironsides” for its use in the USS Constitution. Its resilience to wind, drought (once established), and adaptability to various soil types make the Live Oak an enduring and cherished choice for large landscapes, avenues, and as a grand shade tree.