Southern Live Oak

For a true classic, choose a Southern Live Oak Tree (Quercus virginiana) as a symbol of peace and tranquility for your landscape. What a national treasure! This tree's silhouette is instantly recognized as an icon of the South.

With a low canopy and wide spread, growing a stately Southern Live Oak requires ample room to fill out naturally. This is not a tree you'll want to prune much, or you'll miss out on that distinctive look.

With a bold appearance, this dark green broad-leaved evergreen tree features a massive trunk. This is perfect for a choice specimen tree. It is perhaps the most spreading Oaktree available, providing both outstanding shade and an elegant appearance.

The state tree of Georgia, the Southern Live Oak grows naturally from Virginia to Florida and west into Texas. Trees grow naturally along the coast and inland in woods and along streams.

It can be expected to live over 200 years. In fact, one of the oldest live oaks in Louisiana is said to have lived over 1000 years! This is one of the oldest living trees in North America.

With tremendously hard, rot-resistant wood, the Southern Live Oak was popular in shipbuilding in the 1700 and 1800s. The USS Constitution received its nickname of "Old Ironsides" because of its Southern Live Oak hull. It's said that the hull was so strong that cannonballs couldn't penetrate it...and that's just the beginning of this remarkable tree's virtues.

On the Gulf Coast, Southern Live Oak Trees often support many types of epiphytic plants, including Spanish moss which hangs in long, weeping garlands. With the Spanish moss spilling over its long branches, Southern Live Oak Tree has one of the most distinctive appearances of any tree and will certainly be an awe-inspiring and picturesque addition to your landscape this year.

Many famous specimens can be found around the United States. These include the Seven Sisters Oak in Louisiana, reported to be more than 1500 years old. The Emancipation Oak on the Hampton University Campus in Virginia is listed as one of the 10 Great Trees of the World by National Geographic's Society.

When other Oaks drop their leaves for a winter rest, Live Oak maintains its "live" appearance with vibrant, green leaves all year round. Although in colder and drier climates, the Southern Live Oak will drop leaves in the spring - it quickly starts to replace them with fresh new foliage.

Young trees have a good growth rate, although we do recommend sizing up to the largest container or tree size in stock. You'll be pleased with the presentation a larger tree makes in your yard.

This is certainly one of the most interesting and impressive trees you'll ever plant in your yard.

With a wide crown spread habit, incredibly strong appearance and its adaptability to a variety of conditions, the Southern Live Oak is the first choice for many homeowners. Order today!

How to Use Southern Live Oak in the Landscape

Use a single plant as a dependable shade tree for your yard, or plant a few as an impressive property line demarcation. In larger landscapes, consider lining the drive to create a traditional southern landscape look.

This is a perfect tree to anchor a wildlife garden. Don't be surprised to see wild turkeys roost in the branches. Acorns are a preferred food and will be eaten by birds.

Consider placing a low-slung set of Adirondack chairs, a hammock, or even an outdoor dining table and chairs under the low branches. You may need to prune the lowest branches while the tree is young to prepare for your outdoor entertainment area.

Don't go too wild with pruning, however. You'll want to maintain the amazing, spreading look. Please, use a light hand with the loppers. We advise careful planning - take time to study your new tree closely - and be willing to rework your seating as the tree ages. When it works, adding living space around a Southern Live Oak is truly a magnificent experience to gift yourself, family and friends.

#ProPlantTips for Care

With such a long life, it's obviously also an exceptionally hardy tree. Because it's resistant to pests and disease, you won't have to fuss over it.

Just give the Southern Live Oak a spot in full sun to part shade, in a moist soil with good drainage. It is tolerant of wet soils as long as the drainage is good, it thrives in high humidity and is adapted to coastal conditions, including salt spray.

Adapted to a wide range of soil types from acid to alkaline, sandy loams to heavy clay and one of the few oaks tolerant of high soil salinity. In all these cases, drainage is the key. If you must improve drainage, consider mounding up, or creating a raised mound of soil to plant in. Add soil conditioners such as pine bark to improve drainage.

Enjoy this amazing, strong, long-lived, broad-leafed evergreen tree in your landscape. Order today!