Live Oak
Quercus virginiana
An iconic Southern evergreen oak with sprawling, low horizontal limbs and a broad canopy. Salt- and wind-tolerant, making it a coastal staple. In central Texas it is the primary species lost to oak wilt, so wound-timing discipline is critical.
Field reference
Family
Fagaceae
Growth rate
Moderate
Mature size
40–60 ft tall, 60–100 ft spread
Hardiness zone
7–10
Soil preference
Sandy to clay loam; tolerates salt, occasional flooding, and drought
Sun
Full sun
Pruning window
Mid-winter (dormant); avoid Feb–June in Texas oak-wilt zones
Wood properties
Extremely dense, heavy, interlocked-grain hardwood (~0.80 SG) — historically prized for ship timbers. Massive horizontal limbs hold enormous weight; rig conservatively.
Native range
Southeastern coastal plain, southeastern Virginia to Florida and west to Texas
Green weight
75 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Common questions
Is live oak evergreen or deciduous?
It is functionally evergreen, holding leaves through winter and dropping them over a few weeks in spring as new growth pushes. Arborists still classify it as a broadleaf (deciduous-type) oak.
Why are live oaks so prone to oak wilt in Texas?
Live oaks share interconnected root grafts across stands, letting the fungus move tree-to-tree underground. Trenching to sever roots plus strict pruning timing are core management tools.
Related species in Fagaceae
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