Live Oak (Quercus virginiana):
•Status in Florida: Native
•Native Habitat: Coastal hammocks, maritime forests, woodlands, and along stream banks
•Native State/Country: Southeastern United States (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia)
•Growing Zones: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a
•Size at Maturity: 40 to 80 feet tall, with a spread of 60 to 100 feet wide
•Phenology: Evergreen (semi-evergreen in colder climates)
•Life Cycle: Perennial
•Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
•Growth Habit: Spreading, Rounded, Dense Canopy
•Bloom Season: Spring (catkins)
•Sunlight Requirements: Full, Part
•Soil Texture: Sand, Loam, Clay, Adaptable
•Soil pH: Acidic to Alkaline, Adaptable
•Moisture Requirements: Average to Dry, Drought tolerant once established
•Tolerance to Salt Spray: High (tolerant of coastal conditions)
•Keystone Plant: Yes
•Recommended Landscape Uses: Shade tree, wildlife gardens, large landscapes, restoration projects, erosion control
•Maintenance Tips: Little maintenance required once established; prune for structure when young to encourage strong branching; avoid excessive irrigation or soil compaction
•Considerations: Provides excellent shade and wind resistance; deep roots make it resistant to hurricanes and storms; prone to sprawling root system, so avoid planting near structures
•Hurricane Wind Resistant: Yes
•Erosion Control: Yes
•Nitrogen Fixing: No
•Edible: No
•Pet Safe: Yes
•Deer and Rabbit Resistance: No (young saplings are highly browsed by deer)
•Historical Medicinal Uses: Historically, oak bark was used as an astringent in herbal medicine, especially for treating sores and inflammation
•Florida Native Companion Plant (matching growing conditions): Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria), Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens)
•Wildlife Benefit: Provides food (acorns) for various wildlife, including squirrels, birds, deer, and turkeys; serves as a host plant for several butterfly species such as the Northern hairstreak and Horace’s duskywing
•Caterpillar Host Plant: Yes, hosts many butterfly and moth species, including the Juvenal’s duskywing and Oak hairstreak
•Propagation: Seed (acorns)
•Length of Time Seed is Viable: Acorns should be planted immediately, as they lose viability quickly
•Best Month to Start Seeds: Fall (plant acorns fresh after collecting)
•Seed Treatments: No special treatment needed, but soaking acorns in water to check viability is recommended (viable acorns sink)
