Quercus virginiana Also known as Coastal Live Oak, Southern Live Oak, Virginia Live Oak, Live Oak, Encino Live oaks, affectionately called Quercus virginiana, are gorgeous, long-lived evergreen trees that boast a lovely rounded crown, a short trunk, and gracefully low branches. These trees are native to the coastal plains and woodlands stretching from Virginia down to southern Florida and Texas. With their impressive, sprawling limbs often draped in delicate Spanish moss, they truly embody the charm of the South. Over time, many historic southern roads have been lined with live oaks, and they’ve come to symbolize the heart of the region. In the spring, you can spot lovely yellowish-green flowers as female and male catkins bloom. The tree produces beautiful ellipsoidal acorns, about an inch long, which sit in scaly cups that are roughly one-third the size of the acorn. These acorns are a vital food source for many wildlife species. The live oak's glossy dark green leaves, which can be oblong or elliptic, remain evergreen, adding year-round beauty to the landscape. Its dense wood makes for excellent fuel, and you’ll find that the acorns mature in just one year. These marvelous trees are winter hardy in USDA Zones 8-10 and thrive wonderfully in average to medium wet, well-drained soils under full sun. Remarkably adaptable, they can tolerate a wide variety of soil types, making them a fantastic choice for many gardens. BONAP MAPHeight: 40’-80’Spread 60’-100’Bloom: March-AprilLight: Full SunWater: Medium-HighZone: 8-10Origin: Southeastern United States, Mexico
