Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)

How much light does a Live Oak need?

Full sun is the preferred exposure for live oak. Full sun here means six or more hours of direct sunlight a day. Part shade is also listed, and one source gives the range as full sun to partial shade. Plan for a mature height of 40–80 ft (12.19–24.38 m) and a spread of 60–120 ft (18.29–36.58 m).

• Light: Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred)^1,2,3,2,4

How often to water a Live Oak

Live oak has a medium water use. The recorded water need is medium at both the low end and the high end of its range. Its soil moisture record is broad, listing moist, occasionally dry, occasionally wet and poorly drained conditions. It is also listed for well drained soil.

• Water: Medium³

Best soil for a Live Oak

Live oak is listed for well drained soil. It is also listed for moist soil. Soil that is occasionally dry or occasionally wet is on the list as well. Poorly drained soil appears too. One source describes plentiful moisture on well-drained soil. That gives five recorded drainage conditions in all. No cited source records a soil pH range, so that value is not documented here.

• Soil drainage: Well drained, moist, occasionally dry, occasionally wet and poorly drained^1,2,2

How to propagate a Live Oak

Seed is the recommended propagation strategy for live oak. The record for this species lists seed and no other method. No cutting, division or grafting method appears in the record. The plant type recorded for live oak is tree. Live oak is a tree whose only listed propagation strategy is seed. Timing, depth and seed treatment are not documented here. Seed is the starting point the record gives for a new live oak.

• Propagation: Seed¹

Common problems

Three pests are listed for live oak: lymantria dispar, anoplophora chinensis and euwallacea fornicatus. Four diseases are listed: oak wilt, bacterial leaf scorch, phytophthora root rot and sudden oak death. The pest list has three entries and the disease list has four. Oak wilt appears first among the diseases. Lymantria dispar appears first among the pests.

• Common pests: lymantria dispar, anoplophora chinensis and euwallacea fornicatus⁵
• Common diseases: oak wilt, bacterial leaf scorch, phytophthora root rot and sudden oak death⁵

Questions and answers

How much sun does live oak need?

Live oak prefers full sun, and part shade is also listed. Full sun means six or more hours of direct sunlight a day. One source gives the range as full sun to partial shade.

How big does a live oak get?

A mature live oak reaches 40–80 ft (12.19–24.38 m) tall. Its spread is listed as 60–120 ft (18.29–36.58 m). Its growth rate is moderate.

Is live oak native to the United States?

Live oak has native status in the lower 48 US states. Its native range covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.