UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service

While our winter landscapes are not nearly as dormant looking as places up north, a quick look around town will tell that many of our trees are without leaves this time of year. Yes, Virginia, we do have deciduous trees in Florida - and their temporary bareness can help homeowners identify the kind of tree found in your Florida Yard.

Today’s column will describe how to identify the most common oaks in our area, and give readers a few ideas on the pros and cons between these species. Knowing the differences between oaks will be of value for an important Florida event coming up later this month - Florida’s Arbor Day is the third Friday in January.

And if you are a school teacher who wants help with an school Arbor Day program, our Master Gardeners will be available on January 16^th to help out the first two schools that contact our office.

There are nineteen species of oaks native to Florida. However, only a few species of oaks are common in our area. Oaks are excellent landscape trees, providing deep shade that can assist in cooling dwellings in the summer. Oaks can grow relatively quickly, providing landscape and shade within five to ten years. Some oaks are relatively short-lived, like the water and laurel oaks, while live oaks can thrive for more than 500 years.

Oaks are divided into two groups: the white oaks and the red (or sometimes black) oaks. The white oak species have acorns that mature in the fall of the year they are formed. White oaks generally have a rounded leaf tip and rounded lobes without bristles. Their acorns are sweeter, making them more palatable to both humans and wildlife. Many red oak's leaf lobes are pointed or tipped with a fine bristle. Their acorns mature the second year following their formation, leading to the designation as biennial oaks.

The major white oak tree in our area is the live oak. The majestic, moss draped live oak (Quercus virginiana) may reach heights of 40 to 50 feet with trunk diameters of three to 4 feet. Their low, massive branches provided naturally formed, angled wood valued in building the wooden ships of the 1800s. Live oaks are common on sandy soils throughout the state.

Unlike most other oaks, the live oak retains its leaves until after the following year's leaves have appeared. This habit results in an "evergreen" or "live" tree. Leaves are lustrous green above and lighter gray green on the underside. Live oak leaves are somewhat cupped, rather than flat. Leaves measure two to 5 inches long with width ranging from ½ to 2 ½ inches. The inch long, brownish black acorns are borne on stalks usually in clusters of three to five.

Live oaks are among the more long-lived oaks, frequently living for 200 years or more. Their longevity and spreading nature make this species one of the most valued oaks for a variety of landscape applications. Their longevity means that money spent to retain or improve their health is worth the expenditure.

Live Oaks can rapidly reach a good size as a shade tree if provide with sufficient space and water. They are evergreen. Photo: Mark Shelby

This Live Oak grows in Sebastian, Florida near the Indian River Lagoon. It was planted in 1891 by Robert Hardee, and is called the "Hardee Oak". Photo by Dan Culbert, UF/IFAS

Young Laurel Oak

Young Laurel oaks are generally taller than wide, and if properly pruned in the nursery, can be highly desirable trees. They are deciduous. Photo: Peacock Tree Farms

Older Laurel oaks may show missing limbs and damage if not properly pruned. It is unusual for them to live more than 50-60 years. Photo: Dan Culbert, UF/IFAS

The red oaks include several other local species. The most common of these is the medium sized laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia). It typically reaches heights of 50 to 60 feet, though trees as tall as 100 feet have been recorded. The slender branches form a broad, round topped, dense crown. Laurel oaks are found on sandy soils near streams and swamps. Unfortunately, the laurel oak is short lived and often begins to decline after 50 or 60 years, making it less desirable for landscape use than the live oak. It may not be worth spending a lot of money to trim or transplant older laurel oaks that are declining due to old age.

Although the leaves remain on laurel oaks through much of the winter, they generally fall in early spring leaving the tree bare of leaves for several weeks before the new leaves appear. Laurel oak leaves are lustrous green above and pale below with a yellow midrib. Because the leaves are sometimes diamond-shaped, and are sometimes called diamond-leaf oaks. The ½ inch long acorns are generally solitary and egg shaped.

Leaves of Live oaks are leathery, deep green above, and lighter in color below, The edges of the leaves are rolled downwards. Photo: Stephen Brown, UF/IFAS Lee County	Acorns of Live oaks are longer, with deeper "caps"; they will mature to a deep dark brown color. Photo: Stephen Brown, UF/IFAS Lee County
Leaves of Laurel oaks have a yellowish mid-rib. They are about the same shade of green above and below, and can be variable in shape. Photo: Stephen Brown, UF/IFAS Lee County	Acorns from Laurel oaks are short and round. the "capo will cover only a quarter of the whole nut. At maturity they are green to light brown in color. Photo: Stephen Brown, UF/IFAS Lee County

Less common in our area is the water oak (Quercus nigra), a tall, slender tree. Its leaves are semi-persistent, falling a few at a time throughout the winter. This persistence may give the appearance of an evergreen habit. Leaves vary in shape and size but are generally shaped like a spatula, narrow at the base and broadly rounded near the tip. Both upper and lower surfaces of the leaf are green and smooth.

Acorns are solitary or occasionally in pairs. This widespread species is sometimes found around Okeechobee and may be mistaken for a live oak. Water oaks may obtain a fairly large size - 50 to 70 feet in height is average - but they are weak and short-lived and generally do not perform satisfactorily in the landscape.

Water Oaks have "spoon-shaped" leaves. Photo: UF/IFAS

Turkey Oaks are common in dry scrub habitats. Photo:UF/IFAS

Shumard Oaks are not native to our area, but can do well here. Photo: UF/IFAS

A few of the other native oaks are confined to upland scrub areas with deep sandy soils. The myrtle oak (Quercus myrtifolia) and occasionally the Turkey oak (Quercus laevis) be where scrub areas naturally exist in our area. Other native Florida oaks such as the Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii) can sometimes be planted south of their native range.

Some people may decide against planting oaks for reputation for slow growth. If provided with good care, they can grow rapidly into desirable landscape fixtures in your Florida Yard. And remember that Florida’s Arbor Day in January is a good time to plant oaks because they are in a dormant state.

Our Okeechobee Master Gardeners will hold clinic hours on Tuesday afternoons from 1-5 PM. Bring or call in your questions at that time. If you need additional information on selecting or caring for local oaks, visit our website http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu or stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North. Our phone number is 763-6469, and you can email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu.

Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS /University of Florida. Millie Ferrer, Interim Dean. Last update: 08/02/2010 . This page is maintained by Dan Culbert

The Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants lists 40 species of oaks in Florida; go to their website and search on Quercus to get a list of these trees: http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu