# Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana)

> 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.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-virginiana · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Also called: Live oak, Coastal live oak
- Family: Fagaceae
- Type: Broadleaf evergreen
- Mature height: 15 m; spread 25 m
- Growth: Medium growth
- USDA hardiness zones: 8 to 10
- Light: Sun or part shade
- Water: Low water
- 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

**Benefits:** Shade, Wildlife, Birds, Drought tolerant, Long lived, Storm resistant, Salt tolerant, Stores carbon well

**Good for:** Street tree, Yard shade, parks

**Watch out for:** Large roots, Heavy litter, Pest prone

## 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.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** United States (Also native in: VA (USDA PLANTS distribution)); AL, United States; FL, United States; GA, United States; LA, United States; MS, United States; NC, United States; SC, United States; TX, United States
- **Recommended:** Los Angeles, CA, United States (On the City Plants (Los Angeles) Street Tree Species List); Sacramento, CA, United States (On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list); San Jose, CA, United States (On the Our City Forest Community Nursery tree species list); Washington, DC, United States (On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list); Atlanta, GA, United States (On the Trees Atlanta Top 50 Atlanta Trees list); Austin, TX, United States (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.); Dallas, TX, United States (On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List); Houston, TX, United States (On the City of Houston Planning and Development Department Street Tree List)

## 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