Live Oak

Quercus virginiana

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fagaceae
Genus:
Quercus
Species:
Quercus virginiana

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Tree
Height:
More than 40 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
mar, apr, may
Bloom Colors:
Yellow

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Abrostola microvalis, Antaeotricha humilis, black-banded datana (Cymatophora approximaria), Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia), California oakworm (Phryganidia californica), Cameraria agrifoliella, Cameraria conglomeratella, Cameraria tubiferella, consular oakworm moth (Anisota consularis), Cossula magnifica, Curve-lined looper (Lambdina fervidaria), Curve-toothed geometer (Eutrapela clemataria), Eriocraniella mediabulla, fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita), Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), Grote's buck moth (Hemileuca grotei), Io moth (Automeris io), Iris eyed silkmoth (Automeris iris), Little nymph underwing (Catocala micronympha), live oak metria moth (Metria amella), Louisiana eyed silkmoth (Automeris louisiana), maple webworm moth (Pococera asperatella), Neurobathra strigifinitella, oak leafroller moth (Argyrotaenia quercifoliana), Orange panopoda moth (Panopoda repanda), Oslar's oakworm moth (Anisota oslari), Pacific tent caterpillar (Malacosoma constricta), Pink-striped oakworm moth (Anisota virginiensis), Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), southern oak looper (Lambdina pultaria), southern tussock moth (Dasychira meridionalis), spiny looper moth (Phigalia titea), spotted oakworm moth (Anisota stigma), tiger moth (Malacosoma tigris), Ultronia underwing (Catocala ultronia), walnut spanworm moth (Phigalia plumogeraria), Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica), Western tussock moth (Orgyia vetusta), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), white-marked tussock moth (Dasychira leucophaea), Zale aeruginosa, Fixsenia favonius, Fixsenia ontario, Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Hummingbirds: Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna), Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) Butterflies:Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Intricate Satyr (Hermeuptychia intricata), Intricate Satyr (Hermeuptychia intricata), Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa), Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa), Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta), Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta), Tropical Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus oileus), Tropical Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus oileus), Twin-spot Skipper (Oligoria maculata), Twin-spot Skipper (Oligoria maculata), Whirlabout (Polites vibex), Whirlabout (Polites vibex), White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens), White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens), Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco), Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
well-drained sandy loam or clay
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
adaptable to various soil types in native range

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: None required

Source: npn.rngr.net