Quercus virginiana - live oak

Height: 60’ +
Spread: 80’ +
Light Needs: sun to full shade
Water: average
Flower color: white with red anthers
Bloom time: April 

Entomologist and author, Dr. Tallamy says that oaks are the most important native trees for supporting native wildlife. Nationally, oaks are host plants for the caterpillars of over 800 species of butterflies and moths. These insects, in turn, are food for a wide assortment of birds and many other species of wildlife. In addition, their acorns feed many more animals. Young plants may be browsed by deer. While live oak is native to coastal South Carolina, the seeds for these saplings were collected from mature trees in the Greenville area. It is an excellent evergreen (or tardily deciduous) shade tree. It is popular for use in parking lots and street sides because the trees are so adaptable and the leaves are small. Its small acorns are eaten by birds, squirrels, deer and other wildlife. The evergreen foliage provides winter protection for wildlife.