Live Oak is a medium-sized showy long-lived evergreen tree that may grow 40 to 80 feet tall. It is found in the coastal plains of VA, NC and southward along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It has a broad crown, rarely grows over 50 feet tall with gnarled branches reaching out to 40 to 100 feet wide, often seen with Spanish moss hanging from them. It is not a true evergreen but retains its leaves until the new ones begin to leaf out. The tree has alternate leaves with smooth or spiny margins and pale, hairy undersides. The bark in young trees is characterized by red-brown furrows with small surface scales. As the tree ages, the bark becomes black and very blocky. In spring, cylindrical, male flowers and female spikes mature. The tree produces a 3/4-inch acorn with a warty cap that covers about 1/3 of the nut. The acorn requires one growing season to reach maturity. It makes a magnificent shade tree for large areas with a broad spreading canopy. It is adaptable to both clay and sandy soils that are acidic and well-drained and can handle periodic flooding and salt spray. It is quite wind-resistant. It is a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth ( Eacles imperialis ), as well as numerous butterflies, including Banded hairstreak ( Satyrium calanus ), Edward's hairstreak ( Satyrium edwardsii ), Gray hairstreak ( Strymon melinus ), White-m hairstreak ( Parrhasius malbum ), Horace's duskywing ( Erynnis horatius ), and Juvenalis duskywing ( Erynnis juvenalis ). Some of these species are native to North Carolina as described in this North Carolina State Extension publication . Fire Risk: This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This is a relatively problem-free tree. Insect galls may damage foliage appearance but do not affect the health of the tree. Root rot and oak wilt can be a problem. Quick ID Hints: Leathery leaves with downy undersides oak with laurel-like leaves & revolute margins VIDEO: Part of the Native Plant Picks series from the North Carolina Sea Grant led Coastal Landscapes Initiative .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
more than 60 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in. | Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong; Obovate; Obtuse
Leaf margin
Crenate; Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The alternate thick green leaves are 2-5 inches long and 0.8-1.5 inches wide, shiny on the upper surface and pale with gray tomentose hairs underneath. They are rounded to oblong to elliptic-obovate in shape with margins mostly entire but new growth and juvenile trees will have toothed margins. The base is round to subcordate to broad cuneate. The leaves last into winter.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower detail
The male flowers are drooping, elongated clusters with 1 to 5 on pendulous catkins. Flowers bloom in April.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
0.75- 1-inch egg-shaped acorns on long stalks are produced singly or in up to clusters of 5 and have bowl-shaped caps with tiny sharp-pointed scales covering 1/3 of the nut. Fruits are available September-November.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
The bark is dark brown tinged with red and slightly furrowed
Stem detail
Young twigs are tan to pale gray and covered in short hairs. Becomes darker and nearly smooth in the second year. Buds are dome-shaped, 1/4" long, and have reddish-brown scales.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern United States, Mexico
Distribution
SE Coastal Plain of United States, from Southeastern Virginia southward to Florida, and westward to eastern Texas.
Wildlife value
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. It's acorn are eaten by woodpeckers, blue jays, small mammals, wild turkeys and ducks.
Attracts
Butterflies; Moths; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut
Edibility
Acorns can be eaten after the tannin has been leached or boiled out.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The wood is used for barrels, veneer, cabinetry, furniture, interior trim, and flooring and also has been used for pulp and firewood. It was used in ship construction especially in the 18th and 19th centuries.