The "tree" of the American South — sprawling, evergreen, draped in Spanish moss. Live oaks routinely live 200–300 years, with the famous Angel Oak of South Carolina estimated at 400+ years and 65 feet tall.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Quercus virginiana, also known as the southern live oak, is an evergreen oak tree endemic to the Southeastern United States. Though many other species are loosely called live oak, the southern live oak is particularly iconic of the Old South. Many very large and old specimens of live oak can be found today in the Deep South region of the United States.
Source: Wikipedia — Quercus virginiana Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Massive tree with broad sprawling crown; leathery evergreen leaves; gray-brown bark.
Similar species. Other live oak species (different ranges).
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. N/A — photosynthesis
Behavior. Iconic massive-crowned coastal tree of southeastern US. Spreads horizontally producing some of the most massive crown spreads of any tree.
§ Range
Coastal Plain from Virginia to Texas, including Florida
§ Habitat
Coastal forests, savanna, dunes, urban shade — tolerates salt and storms
§ Threats
Hurricanes (though live oaks survive most storms), construction damage to roots, sudden oak death pathogen, conversion to development.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the southern live oak is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Don't pave or compact soil within the dripline. Support coastal forest protection. Plant live oak as urban shade in southern coastal cities.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Quercus virginiana
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Quercus virginiana
- iNaturalist · taxon 49157
- IUCN Red List — search for Quercus virginiana
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Quercus virginiana
§ Sources cited
- USDA Forest Service Silvics Manual
- Live Oak Society
