N.C. Forest Service - Southern Live Oak

Selecting a Planting Site for a Large Tree

• Choose a location with at least 40 feet of open space.
• Leave at least 15 feet between the tree, sidewalks and hardscapes.
• Do not plant beneath utility lines or near streetlights, signs, etc.

If you cannot plant your tree in the ground within 24 hours, plant it in a pot with potting soil temporarily so it will survive until you find the right spot.

Notes: Live oaks naturally grow in coastal areas and are salt tolerant. As evergreens, they provide year-round shade. Live oak leaves contain oils that are highly flammable. Dispose of fallen leaves carefully!

Description: Southern live oaks are native, evergreen hardwood trees that grow throughout the southern United States. They have large, widespread crowns when mature and wood that is naturally rot resistant. Live oak trees have very long lives, and there are many documented individuals in the United States that are more than 400 years old.

Wildlife Benefits: The acorns of the live oak provide food for bobwhite quail, wood ducks, sapsuckers, wild turkeys, squirrels and whitetail deer. The trees also offer habitat to several species of butterflies and moths. The large, widespread canopy of the live oak provides nesting sites for birds and squirrels alike. 

Return to STEP TWO: HOW TO PLANT YOUR TREE.