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Live oak

How to identify Live oak (Quercus virginiana)

Live oak, also known as Bay live oak, Escarpment live oak

Live oak is characterized by its striking stature and longevity, typically reaching heights between 12-24 meters (40-80 feet). The spread of this tree can be quite impressive, with branches spanning as much as 12-30 meters (40-100 feet) in width. Its robust, sprawling branches are distinguishing features along with its broad canopy. The leaves present a leathery texture with a smooth top surface and a downy underside. They are reminiscent of laurel in shape, complete with revolute margins, where the edges of the leaves curve downward. Notably, live oak's foliage persists throughout most of the year until new growth appears.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Live oak

1

Leathery leaves with revolute margins resembling laurel, persisting year-round.

2

Male flowers in pendulous catkins, wind-pollinated, greenish hue, lacking petals.

3

Egg-shaped acorns with bowl-shaped caps and sharp-pointed scales, fall maturation.

4

Dark green shiny leaves with pale underside, oblong to elliptic-obovate shape.

5

Rugged dark brown bark with reddish tints, furrowed texture, robust girth up to 4 feet.

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Detailed Traits of Live oak

Leaf Features

The leaves of live oak are alternately arranged, thick, and measure 2-5 inches (5-12.7 cm) long by 0.8-1.5 inches (2-3.8 cm) wide. They are shiny and dark green on the upper surface, while the underside has a pale hue with gray tomentose hairs. The leaves are rounded to oblong to elliptic-obovate in shape with mostly entire margins, although young trees and new growth may exhibit toothed margins. The leaf bases are round to subcordate to broad cuneate. These leaves persist into winter.

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Flower Features

The male flowers of live oak are arranged in pendulous catkins, each cluster ranging from 1 to 5 flowers. These elongated and drooping clusters measure approximately 1 to 4 inches (2.5 to 10 cm) in length. The flowers bloom in April, displaying a subtle greenish hue. They lack prominent petals and are primarily wind-pollinated, emitting no discernible scent. These characteristics are quintessential for identification during the blooming season.

Live oak Flower image
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Stem Features

The stem of live oak is initially tan to pale gray, covered with short hairs, and feels slightly rough. In the second year, it becomes darker and nearly smooth. The young twigs are around 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) thick, and the buds are dome-shaped, measuring about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) long, with reddish-brown scales. The branching pattern is typically dense and intricate, providing a sturdy structure.

Live oak Stem imageLive oak Stem image
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Fruit Features

The fruit of live oak is characterized by 0.75-1 inch (around 1.9-2.5 cm) egg-shaped acorns that are borne singly or in clusters of up to five on long stalks. These acorns possess distinctive bowl-shaped caps adorned with tiny sharp-pointed scales, which envelop roughly one third of the nut. The fruiting period extends from September to November, indicating a fall maturation. The acorns exhibit a hard texture, and while the coloration is not explicitly mentioned, acorns typically range from a green to brown hue as they mature.

Live oak Fruit imageLive oak Fruit image
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Live oak and Their Similar Plants

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Northern red oak vs. Live oak: What's The Difference?
Arguably the most popular hardwood in the US, lumber from northern red oak (Quercus rubra) is used for cabinets, flooring, veneers, trim, and more. When growing, the tree reaches a height of 15 to 23 m. The foliage on this tree is stunning, with dark green leaves in summer giving way to brilliant red in the fall.
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English oak vs. Live oak: What's The Difference?
The english oak (*Quercus robur*) is a deciduous tree native to Europe. It is a very long-lived tree; the oldest known specimens have been living for more than a thousand years. It is commonly represented in European mythologies as a symbol of strength, longevity, nobility, morale, and knowledge.
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Pin oak vs. Live oak: What's The Difference?
Quercus palustris, colloquially known as pin oak, is a deciduous tree native to North America. Due to its favorable growing qualities and beautiful bronze coloration in autumn, pin oak is one of the most common oak species used in landscaping.
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White oak vs. Live oak: What's The Difference?
Quercus alba is a long-lived white oak with a broad canopy. The common name, white oak, refers to the color of its processed wood, which has a wide variety of uses - construction, for wine and whiskey barrels, making musical instruments and weapons in Japanese martial arts, etc. White oak is rarely cultivated as an ornamental due to its large size.
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Bur oak vs. Live oak: What's The Difference?
A deciduous tree native to North America, the bur oak is large and reaches mature heights over 46 m tall. The acorns that come from this tree are the largest of all the oak trees. Bur oak is used most often for shade, in shelterbelts, or as an ornamental.
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Water oak vs. Live oak: What's The Difference?
Water oak (Quercus nigra) is a medium-sized deciduous tree often found in low woodlands, floodplains, and near swamps and rivers in southeastern areas of North America, where it plays an important role in woodland ecosystems. It is rarely used in ornamental purposes due to its unfavorable growing qualities.
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Willow oak (Quercus phellos) is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to North America. It is easily distinguished from other species of oaks by the shape of its leaves - Quercus phellos has lanceolate, oval leaves which resemble those of willow, hence the common name.
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Black oak (Quercus velutina) is a deciduous tree with a rounded, wide crown, found on hills, slopes, and ridges of eastern North America. The common name refers to the color of its bark. Black oak often hybridizes with other plants of the genus Quercus.
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Key Facts About Live oak

Attributes of Live oak
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Tree
Plant Height
15 m to 35 m
Spread
18 m to 30 m
Leaf Color
Green
Flower Color
Yellow
Green
Fruit Color
Brown
Black
Yellow
Gold
Copper
Stem Color
Brown
Leaf type
Evergreen
The Toxicity of Live oak
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Scientific Classification of Live oak

Family
Beech
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Genus
Oaks
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Species
Live oak (Quercus virginiana)
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Distribution Map of Live oak

Live oak is native to the southeastern US, following the Atlantic coast from Texas to Virginia. Live oak prefers moist environments and is typically found in sandy, gravelly, or clay soils along coastal plains, though it is sometimes cultivated further inland as a shade tree.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
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