For recreational areas and patio plantings the Live Oak Tree provides valuable shade. The Live Oak Tree is a traditional shade tree to plant in the south, to shade houses and offices during the heat of summer. The Live Oak Tree is a very aggressive tree, and sometimes the tree can squeeze out even a mature longleaf pine tree. William Bartram, an early American explorer, in 1776 first described the Live Oak Tree as: "the expansive umbrageous Live Oak with its awesome veneration." Families enjoy the shade of giant Live Oak Trees planted at the coastal islands, where in the deep south the Spanish moss drapes romantically from Live Oak Trees throughout the year.
The Live Oak Tree is one of the most desirable landscape and ornamental trees, and grows to 40-60 ft. in height, and the trunk can grow 6 ft. in diameter; also has a gigantic spread up to 100 ft. The bark is reddish brown to gray and deeply furrowed. The Live Oak Tree is the official state tree of Georgia, and the tree grows from Virginia to Florida and westward to Texas. The tree likes moist well-drained soil and is drought resistant once established. The Live Oak Tree tolerates auto exhaust fumes and grows as a stately, majestic avenue tree in southern cities.
