Live Oak
Quercus virginiana
- Native to:
- United States, Virgin Islands
Source: Wikimedia; Credit: François André Michaux (book author), Henri-Joseph Redouté (illustrator), Gabriel (engraver)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus virginiana
- USDA Symbol:
- QUVI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 1830 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow-green
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★★★★★ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
- Hummingbirds:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented hummingbird visits (GBIF)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
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 (Dasychira leucophaea), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Zale aeruginosa, Fixsenia favonius, Fixsenia ontario, Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Habropoda depressa, ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) Hummingbirds: Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna), Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri), Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Moths:Anisota pellucida, Armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta), Artace cribrarius, Astarte prominent moth (Heterocampa astarte), Bucculatrix albertiella, California oakworm (Phryganidia californica), Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus), Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidoides), Coptodisca powellella, Filbertworm (Cydia latiferreana), fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita), Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), Fulgoraecia exigua, Glaphyria sesquistrialis, Hemileuca Walker, Heterocampa astartoides, Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Io moth (Automeris io), live oak metria moth (Metria amella), Megalopyge Hübner, Neocrania bifasciata, Oiketicus Guilding, Orgyia Ochsenheimer, Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Puss caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis), Stigmella variella, Stilbosis Clemens, Synanthedon resplendens, Western tussock moth (Orgyia vetusta), Ypsilon Moth (Lycia ypsilon) Butterflies:California Sister (Adelpha californica), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Gold-hunter's hairstreak (Satyrium auretorum), Golden Hairstreak (Habrodais grunus), Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis), Hedgerow Hairstreak (Satyrium saepium), Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), Julia butterfly (Dione vanillae), Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis), Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius), Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon), Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Propertius Duskywing (Erynnis propertius), Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, mammals, butterflies
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Mature trees are fire-tolerant; seedlings may be top-killed but resprout.
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
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification for 30-60 days to break dormancy; germination occurs in spring.
Pre-treatment: None required
Source: npn.rngr.net
Where to Buy
Nationwide Seller
- Sheffield's Seed (seeds)