{"slug":"quercus-fusiformis","scientific_name":"Quercus fusiformis","common_names":["Escarpment live oak","Plateau live oak","Texas live oak","Hill Country live oak"],"family":"Fagaceae","type":"broadleaf_evergreen","mature_height_m":12,"mature_spread_m":15,"growth_rate":"medium","lifespan_years":null,"hardiness_zones":[7,10],"sun":"full_partial","water":"low","soil":"Rocky, sandy, clay or loam soils, usually limestone-based; handles shallow caliche better than Southern live oak","native_range":"Central Texas between the Brazos and Pecos rivers, north into southern Oklahoma and south into northeastern Mexico","description":"The live oak that actually grows wild across the Edwards Plateau and most Austin neighborhoods. It looks almost identical to Southern live oak but has smaller leaves, stays shorter (20-40 feet) and is more drought- and cold-hardy. It often grows in clonal groves connected by roots, which is part of why oak wilt spreads so easily through it.","care":"Water deeply through the first two summers, then rarely. Prune only in the coldest and hottest months and paint wounds right away to reduce oak wilt risk; never leave fresh cuts open in spring. Protect the root zone from trenching and compaction during construction. Root suckers are normal and can be mowed.","benefits":["shade","wildlife","birds","drought_tolerant","long_lived","storm_resistant","carbon"],"uses":["street_tree","yard_shade","parks"],"cautions":["large_roots","heavy_litter","pest_prone"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Matrimonial_Oak_San_Saba_County_Texas.jpg","image_credit":"Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons","sources":["https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUFU","https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=QUFU","https://www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/plant-guide/oak-southern-live"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-fusiformis","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-fusiformis.md","regions":[{"country":"US","region":"OK","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUFU"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUFU"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Austin","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Austin Grow Green native and adapted plant list (Watershed Protection). The live oak entry advises: if planting in shallow soil, use Escarpment Live Oak, Q. fusiformis, which is more drought tolerant.","source_url":"https://www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/plant-guide/oak-southern-live"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Dallas","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List","source_url":"https://dallas.gov/departments/sustainabledevelopment/buildinginspection/DCH%20documents/pdf/BI_Approved%20Tree%20List.pdf"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}