Oak, Live (Gulf Coast)

This majestic semi-evergreen Texas native may be the most picturesque tree you will ever see. Although it does not grow to great heights, it is noble in stature. Live oak is a wide-spreading tree with a broad, rounded canopy. It grows from 40 to 80 feet tall with a width of 60 to 100 feet (sometimes the spread exceeds the height). The live oak has magnificent horizontal branches that often arch gracefully or sweep down towards the ground before curving up again.

The LEAVES are simple, alternate, oblong to elliptical, 2 – 5 inches long, and leathery, snapping crisply when bent. They are dark glossy green above, pale gray-green below, with an entire margin that often curls slightly under. The LEAVES persist into the next spring, and are pushed off as the new leaves emerge. The spring FLOWERS are typical for an oak: inconspicuous female flowers, 1 to 5 together in the leaf axils, and male catkins, yellowish, slender, and 1 to 3 inches long. The tapered ACORNS are small, about ¾ to 1 inch long, green turning dark brown at maturity, borne singly or in clusters of 2 to 5 on a single stalk. The BARK is very dark, and furrowed longitudinally, becoming blocky on some older trees, and often seen mottled with lichen.

Although Live oaks grow best in well-drained sandy soils and loams, they will adapt to just about any soil type and will thrive in almost any location. The WOOD is extremely strong, making the Live oak one of the most wind-resistant trees available. They are also tolerant of salt spray and moderate soil salinity, can withstand occasional floods and hurricanes, and even tend to survive fire hence are very long-lived. It is not unusual for a tree to survive well beyond 300 years. The Angel Oak on Johns Island, South Carolina is estimated to be 1400 years old.

Live oaks are very tolerant of city conditions, soil compaction, and soil disturbance, making them useful as street trees, and they make magnificent shade trees. The only serious problem that affects Live oak is its susceptibility to oak wilt. The sweet acorns of Live oak are an important and favorite food of birds such as wood ducks, wild turkeys, quail, jays and the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, as well as mammals such as squirrels, raccoons, black bear and whitetail deer. The trees also provide nest sites for many species.