These trees are known for the sweet, tapered acorns that they produce, which are eaten by near by birds and mammals. These typically including sapsuckers, mallards, wild turkeys, squirrels, deer, and more.
For some areas where the southern live oak is naturally occurring their scrub hosts the nests of the threatened Florida scrub jay relies. They are not alone either, other birds make use of the moss that frequently hangs from the southern live oak tree branches to assist in constructing their nests.
The Majestic Southern Live Oak Tree
Southern live oaks are majestic trees that are a staple of the South’s scenery. They are known for their impressive array of branches. When given enough space to grow, their sweeping limbs with plunge toward the ground then go shooting upward.
They truly strech their branches out, in fact, the crowns of the largest southern live oaks reach diameters of 150 feet, that is almost large enough to encompass half of a football field. On average, the north Texas southern live oak’s crown spread is only about 80 feet and the height is 50 feet. The branches usually stem from a single trunk, which can grow to five or six feet in diameter.
Unlike most oak trees, southern live oaks are not deciduous, or known for shedding it’s leaves annually. Instead, the southern live oaks are nearly evergreen. Meaning that they remain green and “live” throughout the winter, when other oaks are typically dormant and leafless. They quickly replace their leaves over a short several week period each spring.
Where Are Southern Live Oak Trees Found?
As the scientific name “Quercus virginiana” suggests, the southern live oaks are found in Virginia, and continue south to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma. The southern live oaks are known to grow well in salty soils and in shade. This can actually makes them great competitors against other, less tolerant trees.
These southern live oaks are confined to warm areas of the country because of their inability to survive freezing temperatures. These trees can be found both growing in the wild, but they’re also popular ornamental plants amongst many southerners.
The Life of a Southern Live Oak Tree
Southern live oak trees have small beautiful flowers than bloom each spring. These flowers are not bright and showy like the flora of some other trees. They are small, brown, and pollinated by spring winds. Their delicious acorns that fall each autumn are known to serve as a consistent food source for many nearby animals.
While southern live oaks are considered fast-growing trees, their growth rate has been observed to slow with age. These tree are known to grows at a rate with the annual height increases of about 13–24″ yearly. They traditionally reach close to their maximum trunk diameter within about 70 years.
Despite this, the oldest live oaks in the country are estimated to be between several hundred to more than a thousand years old. Their longevity is one of the reasons that southern live oaks are popular in North Texas.
History of the Southern Live Oak Tree
Despite their incredibly strong wood, southern live oaks aren’t often for timber anymore. They were once the preferred tree for ship-building. This was because the southern live oak trees’ short height and low-hanging branches made their lumber perfect to be used in curved parts of the ship’s frame. It was utilized to shape specific pieces that need the grain running perpendicular to structural stress, making them exceptionally strong.
While their wood was sought out for ship building once upon a time, their biggest threats are several pests and tree diseases, including oak wilt, which is most prevalent in Texas. Their wood is also susceptible to freezing temperatures and acid rain as well.
In fact, the wood from southern live oaks is incredibly tough and durable that even the U.S. Navy was utilizing for their own ships. The naval vessel U.S.S. Constitution was heroically nicknamed “Old Ironsides” after her live oak hull survived repeated cannon fire during the War of 1812.
Historical Southern Live Oaks In Texas
In Austin, Texas there are three live oak trees that are remnant of a once larger grove. The stand today on what are the original forty acres of the University of Texas campus back when it first opened in 1883. The legend has it that when word was received that Northern troops reached Galveston amidst the Civil War, the hill of oaks was destroyed to build a fortress to protect the Texas Capitol. These are the only three live oaks that remain from the original hill of oaks.
In 1923, the University of Texas unveiled plans to build a new biological laboratories building, which was designated in the same space as these live oak trees putting htem in immediate danger of destruction. Students and faculty joined together in raising concerns with Dr. William Battle, chair of the Faculty Building Committee. Judge Robert Batts, a distinguished jurist, UT law professor and later chairman of the Board of Regents even wrote Battle explaining that he would “come down to Austin with a shotgun” if that’s what was needed to save the historical live oaks. Battle ended up agreeing the trees should be saved and took the matter up with the Board of Regents, convincing them to move the building elsewhere. The oaks were later named for their champion. The Battle Trees are on 24th street, one block east of Guadalupe Street, in Austin.
If you are interested in learning more about Southern Live Oaks or other trees that thrive in the DFW area, don’t hesitate to reach out to the professional arborists at TREE TECH! We would love assist you in caring for your trees in any way that we can.
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