{"slug":"quercus-virginiana","scientific_name":"Quercus virginiana","common_names":["Southern live oak","Live oak","Coastal live oak"],"family":"Fagaceae","type":"broadleaf_evergreen","mature_height_m":15,"mature_spread_m":25,"growth_rate":"medium","lifespan_years":null,"hardiness_zones":[8,10],"sun":"full_partial","water":"low","soil":"Tolerates sand, clay, compaction and poor drainage; best in neutral to slightly acidic loam; on shallow limestone the escarpment live oak form is the better choice","native_range":"Coastal plain from southeastern Virginia through Florida and west along the Gulf to Texas and northeastern Mexico","description":"The classic wide, low-branching shade oak of the South, with small leathery leaves that stay on the tree all winter and drop as new leaves emerge in spring. It usually tops out around 40-50 feet but spreads 50-100 feet, so it needs a large open yard or parkway, not a narrow strip. Long-lived, wind-firm and the tree most people picture when they think of Austin, where most wild trees are actually the closely related escarpment live oak.","care":"Water deeply every week or two for the first two summers, then only in long droughts. Oak wilt is the main threat in Central Texas: prune only in the hottest and coldest months (roughly July-January), paint every cut immediately, and avoid wounding roots or trunk. Young trees sprawl and benefit from light structural pruning. Expect root suckers and a heavy spring leaf drop.","benefits":["shade","wildlife","birds","drought_tolerant","long_lived","storm_resistant","salt_tolerant","carbon"],"uses":["street_tree","yard_shade","parks"],"cautions":["large_roots","heavy_litter","pest_prone"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/FL_Volusia_Oak03.jpg","image_credit":"Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons","sources":["https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUVI","https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=QUVI","https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-virginiana/","https://www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/plant-guide/oak-southern-live","https://www.treefolks.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/NeighborWoodsTreeMenu-2026.pdf"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-virginiana","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-virginiana.md","regions":[{"country":"US","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Also native in: VA (USDA PLANTS distribution)","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUVI"},{"country":"US","region":"AL","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUVI"},{"country":"US","region":"FL","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUVI"},{"country":"US","region":"GA","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUVI"},{"country":"US","region":"LA","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUVI"},{"country":"US","region":"MS","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUVI"},{"country":"US","region":"NC","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUVI"},{"country":"US","region":"SC","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUVI"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUVI"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"Los Angeles","status":"recommended","note":"On the City Plants (Los Angeles) Street Tree Species List","source_url":"https://www.cityplants.org/street-tree-species-list/"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"Sacramento","status":"recommended","note":"On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list","source_url":"https://sactree.org/best-trees-for-sacramento/"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"San Jose","status":"recommended","note":"On the Our City Forest Community Nursery tree species list","source_url":"https://www.ourcityforest.org/nursery-species"},{"country":"US","region":"DC","locality":"Washington","status":"recommended","note":"On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list","source_url":"https://caseytrees.org/rebate"},{"country":"US","region":"GA","locality":"Atlanta","status":"recommended","note":"On the Trees Atlanta Top 50 Atlanta Trees list","source_url":"https://treesatlanta.org/resources/50-atlanta-trees/"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Austin","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Austin Grow Green native and adapted plant list (Watershed Protection). Listed as 'Oak, Southern Live'; the guide notes oak wilt susceptibility and suggests escarpment live oak (Q. fusiformis) on shallow soils.","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"},{"country":"US","region":"TX","locality":"Houston","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Houston Planning and Development Department Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/DevelopRegs/StreetTree_files/StreetTree.xlsx"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}