Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden

Quercus virginiana

Latin name: Quercus virginiana

Common name: Southern Live Oak

Flowers: Yellow, inconspicuous catkins 2-3 in.10, blooms March-May10

Fruit or cones: Brown to dark black, 1 in. acorns produced in clusters of 1-56

Height & Width: 40-80 ft. tall and 60-100 ft. wide6

Type: Deciduous10

Habit: Wide-spreading with a broad, rounded canopy6, 10

Wetland indicator category**: Facultative Upland in Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains & Eastern Mountain Piedmont17

Texture: Fine13

Growth rate: Medium13

Light: Sun, part-shade10

Moisture: Prefers high moisture but tolerates drought6

Soil*: Adapted to coarse, fine, & medium textured soils, tolerates a pH between 4.5 and 7.317

Zones: 8-104

Origin: Native to Utah, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia16

Ecosystem benefits: Ornamental shade tree, attracts birds, squirrels, and butterflies for shelter and food, timber, medicinally used to treat dysentery (gastrointestinal disease)10

Southern Live Oak - Quercus Virginiana - A tree with massive horizontal limbs with a majestic appearance located in SC.
Author: Cayleigh Brown
Image Source:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/large-southern-live-oak-quercus-virginiana-near-charleston-south-carolina/113611810

Features: The Live Oak is an outstanding specimen in the landscape. They have massive horizontal limbs that give a majestic appearance6. Matured trees are some of the most recognized native trees in South Carolina, often decorated with Spanish moss and resurrection ferns6. Live oaks have successfully grown in urban areas where air pollution, poor drainage, compacted soil, and/or drought are common, and are highly salt tolerant13.

Siting: This species forms large root systems and large crowns with age16, so they need adequate space considering mature height and spread. They are commonly found planted along avenues or drives. In urban areas, matured tree roots can lift sidewalks or streets if planted too close6. A great plant for a residential shade tree10. Considering mature size, useful in large parking lot islands, wide tree lawns, and buffer/median strips13.

Care: When transplanted small (not root-bound in pots prior to planting) and given adequate water, live oaks grow rapidly16. They are tolerant of a wide range of soil moisture, pH, and compaction8. Pruning is only necessary in the early years (during mid-late summer) to develop a strong central leader and firm branch structure6. Plant so root flare is visible at soil surface14. At planting, water the root ball daily with two gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter for two weeks, every other day for two months, and then weekly until established. Modify water recommendations to reflect site drainage and rainfall. Apply 3” of mulch over the planted area. Do not allow mulch to touch the trunk14. Give it plenty of room since the trunk can grow to more than six feet in diameter13.

Pests: Plants are relatively pest resistant if cultural preferences are met. Scales of several types can be controlled with horticultural oil sprays. Aphids are often naturally taken care of by predatory insects. Newly planted young trees need to be treated with regular fertilization and water during dry weather to keep as healthy as possible13.

Image Source:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/large-southern-live-oak-quercus-virginiana-near-charleston-south-carolina/113611810

Features: The Live Oak is an outstanding specimen in the landscape. They have massive horizontal limbs that give a majestic appearance. Matured trees are some of the most recognized native trees in South Carolina, often decorated with Spanish moss and resurrection ferns. Live oaks have successfully grown in urban areas where air pollution, poor drainage, compacted soil, and/or drought are common, and are highly salt tolerant.

Siting: This species forms large root systems and large crowns with age, so they need adequate space considering mature height and spread. They are commonly found planted along avenues or drives. In urban areas, matured tree roots can lift sidewalks or streets if planted too close. A great plant for a residential shade tree. Considering mature size, useful in large parking lot islands, wide tree lawns, and buffer/median strips.

Care: When transplanted small (not root-bound in pots prior to planting) and given adequate water, live oaks grow rapidly. They are tolerant of a wide range of soil moisture, pH, and compaction. Live oaks prefer full sun but can tolerate more shade. Pruning is only necessary in the early years (during mid-late summer) to develop a strong central leader and firm branch structure. Plant so root flare is visible at soil surface. At planting, water the root ball daily with two gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter for two weeks, every other day for two months and then weekly until established. Modify water recommendations to reflect site drainage and rainfall. Apply 3” of mulch over the planted area. Do not allow mulch to touch the trunk. Give it plenty of room since the trunk can grow to more than six feet in diameter.

Sources:

  1. Armitage, A. (2001). Armitage’s manual of annuals, biennials, and half-hardy perennials. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
  2. Armitage, A. (2006). Armitage’s native plants for North American gardens. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press.
  3. Armitage, A. (2008). Herbaceous perennial plants: A treatise on their identification, culture, and garden attributes. Athens, GA: University of Georgia.
  4. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Flowers fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/flowers/
  5. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Groundcovers & vines fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/groundcovers/
  6. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center. (2011). Trees. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/trees/
  7. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Shrubs. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/shrubs/
  8. Dirr, M. A. (2009). Manual of woody landscape plants. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing.
  9. Gilman, E. F. (1997). Trees for urban and suburban landscapes. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers.
  10. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center University of Texas at Austin. (2012). Native plant information network. Retrieved from http://www.wildflower.org/explore/
  11. McMillan, P., Plant taxonomist Clemson University, personal communication.
  12. Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Plant finder. Retrieved from http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Alpha.asp
  13. North Carolina State University (2005). Plant fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/index.html
  14. Strother, E. V., Ham, D. L., Gilland, L. (2003) Urban tree species guide: Choosing the right tree for the right place. Columbia, SC: South Carolina Forestry Commission.
  15. University of Florida, IFAS Extension. (2011). Southern trees fact sheet. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/department_envhort-trees
  16. USDA. Plant profile. (n/d). Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/java/
  17. USDA. Plant wetland indicator status. (n/d). Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/wetland.html
  18. Vincent, E., Environmental horticulturist Clemson University, personal communication.
  19. Clemson Extension. Carolina Yards Plant Database. Retrieved from https://www.clemson.edu/extension/carolinayards/plant-database/index.html

* Adapt the water recommendations according to your specific situation and rainfall patterns. Consult a local expert or the Clemson University County Extension service for guidance.

**2012 Plant Wetland Indicator categories (quantitative derived) http://plants.usda.gov/wetinfo.html
Plant Wetland Indicator categories
Indicator Code Indicator Status Comment
OBL Obligate Wetland Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands
FACW Facultative Wetland Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands
FAC Facultative Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte
FACU Facultative Upland Occasionally is a hydrophyte but usually occurs in uplands
UPL Obligate Upland Rarely is a hydrophyte, almost always in uplands