Tree of Merit
Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
By Brittany R. Benjamin
PhD Candidate in Urban Forestry
at Southern University and
A&M College-Baton Rouge,
and Supervisory Forester for
the U.S. Forest Service
urban-forestry.com 39
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7–10
Height: 40–80 feet (12–24 m)
Spread: 60–100 feet (18–30 m)
In the U.S., the southern live oak (Quercus vir-
giniana) is synonymous with the South. Live oak
conjures images of its wide-spreading canopy
and sinuous limbs draped in Spanish moss,
and it's iconically been planted in allées in and
around the cities of the southern states. Live
oak's thick and sturdy limbs stretch far from the
trunk—either growing along the ground or diving
downward before shooting back upwards to the
sky—creating the perfect playground for kids.
Live oak is a very durable native tree in the South
and for that reason is often aged in centuries.
This longevity owes to the fact that live oak is
very adaptable and can grow in almost any loca-
tion. It performs well in a park, a large yard, as
a street tree (where above- and below-ground
room is adequate), and in forested areas. Its
best form will be reached where the tree has
enough room to expand and stretch! Live oak
tolerates both wet and dry sites, can handle
short periods of flooding and drought, and it
tolerates aerosol salt spray very well and soil
salt moderately well. It can grow in somewhat
compacted soil, and it performs well in shade.
One key feature of the live oak tree that helps it
survive in its native southern habitat is its root
system morphology. It has a tap root that anchors
it when the tree is young, but over time it is
anchored by an extensive and widespread root
system. Along with its low center of gravity, this
makes live oak resistant to the strong winds >>
Live oaks dripping with Spanish moss in Savannah,
Georgia. Photo by Michelle Sutton
