The Quercus virginiana, also known as the southern live oak, is an evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States.
Although many other species are loosely called live oak, the southern live oak is particularly iconic of the Old South.
The underside of the leaf is white. Attractive tree. Best in deep, fertile soil, but widely adapted except for high elevations.
Southern live oak or simply Quercus virginiana is an evergreen oak.
The tree is a common sight in states like Virginia, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana.
The Live Oak is not a very tall species but has a full canopy with stout branches.
Most of the wood is, situated in these branches, as opposed to the conifer trees where most of the wood is in the tall trunk.
An open-grown live oak is a massive, picturesque, wide-spreading tree with magnificent horizontal and arching branches.
A short, tapering trunk larger in diameter than that of other oak supports the huge, irregular limbs which often rest their elbows on the ground.
Dimensions are 40-80 ft. in height and 60-100 ft. in width.
Dark-green, waxy, unlobed leaves fall just as new leaves emerge in the spring, making the tree appear evergreen, though the coordinated leaf loss means its not a real fir.
