Gardening Ideas Outdoor Plants Trees 10 Types Of Oak Trees To Grow In The South By Arricca Elin SanSone Arricca Elin SanSone Arricca Elin SanSone is a lifestyle and garden writer whose work has appeared in many national publications including Prevention, Country Living, Veranda, The Spruce, PureWow, and others. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 10, 2024 Close Photo: Getty Images There’s a reason it’s called the Mighty Oak: Oak trees are stately trees that can live for hundreds of years. “If you want to plant a tree your great-grandkids can enjoy, go with an oak,” says Greg Huber, a Georgia Registered Landscape Architect (RLA) and program coordinator of the certified landscape and plant professional programs at the Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture, University of Georgia. “There’s tremendous variety, and oaks have a classic beauty that feels solid and unchanging.” Features They are strong trees resistant to fungal disease and insects, and their hard, heavy wood is used to make furniture and flooring. There are 435 species that grow all around the world, including 90 that are native to North America. Some varieties live for hundreds or thousands of years. Oak trees can be identified by their hard brown scaly bark, lobed leaves, and acorns. Most oak trees are toxic. The tannins found in the tree’s leaves, acorns, bark, and buds can be harmful to dogs, cats, and cattle if ingested in large quantities. They are toxic to humans as well. Habitat Oaks also provide habitat for birds, mammals, and pollinators. In addition, mature oaks produce acorn crops regularly, which are a favorite food of many kinds of wildlife. But oaks aren’t a species that should be planted in small suburban plots: The tallest types can reach 100 feet tall and 80 to 100 feet wide. Even the smallest oaks are 30 to 40 feet tall and wide. They’re also one of the more slow-growing trees in comparison to other types, gaining approximately a foot per year, while some trees, such as maples, may grow at twice that rate, says Huber. Because of its slow growth rate, planting an oak tree is an act of goodwill. Although you won’t get to see your tree reach its mature size, there’s still something to be said for investing in future generations. “Oak species are a critical part of the urban and rural canopy for both humans and wildlife,” says Huber. “In a fast-paced world, maybe we should plant something slow and steady.” Read on for the most common types of native oak trees that thrive in the South. Greg Huber is a Georgia Registered Landscape Architect (RLA) and program coordinator of the certified landscape and plant professional programs at the Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture, University of Georgia. 01 of 10 White Oak Getty Images Botanical Name: Quercus albaSun Exposure: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Type: Moist, well-drained, coarse, loamySoil pH: Slightly acidicHeight: 60 to 100 feetSpread: 40 to 60 feet White oaks have attractive scaly, grayish bark and lobed leaves with rounded tips. The foliage turns a pretty mottled reddish hue in fall. Acorns appear from September through November. White oaks grow in a pyramid shape while young and a rounded shape as they mature. They also can live for a few hundred years. Often grown as a shade tree, this oak adapts to many soils and is drought tolerant. 02 of 10 Southern Red Oak Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Botanical Name: Quercus falcataSun Exposure: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Type: Well-drained, sandy, loamy, rocky, claySoil pH: AcidicHeight: 60 to 80 feetSpread: 40 to 50 feet Southern red oaks have glossy, deep green leaves with tan undersides. This oak has an upright form when young, with a more rounded shape when mature, and grows in sandy, clay loam, or gravelly soils. It also lives for 200 to 300 years. It grows in the central and eastern U.S. and is drought tolerant. It takes two years for its acorns to mature. 03 of 10 Chestnut Oak Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Botanical Name: Quercus montanaSun Exposure: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Type: Moist, well-drained, clay, loamy, sandy, shallow rockySoil pH: AcidicHeight: 50 to 70 feetSpread: 50 to 70 feet This oak is typically found on dry, rocky ridges, including in the mountains. The mature tree has deeply textured light gray bark, similar to a chestnut tree. This central and eastern U.S. native belongs to the white oak family. Its leaves are coarsely toothed and it has large acorns. It prefers to grow in loamy soil. 04 of 10 Live Oak Getty Images Botanical Name: Quercus virginianaSun Exposure: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Type: Moist, well-draining, clay, loamy, sandySoil pH: Acidic, neutralHeight: 80 to 100 feetSpread: 50 to 60 feet This magnificent oak has a striking presence with horizontal branch intersections and leathery, elongated leaves that have silvery undersides. It retains its leaves until new ones leaf out. Live oaks adapt well to poor soils, such as coastal plains, are wind resistant, and can live for centuries (The Angel Oak in Charleston is estimated to be 300 to 400 years old!). These oaks are often seen draped in Spanish moss. 05 of 10 Georgia Oak Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Botanical Name: Quercus georgianaSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Well-draining, clay, loamySoil pH: Acidic, neutralHeight: 30 to 40 feetSpread: 30 to 40 feet This oak, which tends to be somewhat smaller than many other types, is found on rocky granite or sandstone outcroppings but has a limited range in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. The glossy leaves have a unique shape with pointy lobes. It’s considered rare and is endangered in some areas, though it is available from a limited number of nurseries. 06 of 10 Scarlet Oak Getty Images Botanical Name: Quercus coccineaSun Exposure: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Type: Moist, well-drained, clay, loamy, sandySoil pH: AcidicHeight: 60 to 80 feetSpread: 30 to 40 feet This oak has narrow leaves with pointy lobes, and it tolerates a wide range of soils. The foliage turns brilliant scarlet in fall, so it’s often chosen as an ornamental tree for its autumn color. Scarlet oak grows more quickly than some other types. It begins producing acorns after 20 years. 07 of 10 Nuttall Oak Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University Botanical Name: Quercus texana (formerly Quercus nuttallii)Sun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Well-drained, clay, loamy, sandySoil pH: Acidic, neutralHeight: 40 to 60 feetSpread: 30 to 40 feet Nuttall oaks are faster-growing oaks. They have an oval shape and good branching, making them ideal shade trees. This oak tolerates many soil types. It is native to wet bottomland soils on floodplains along the Gulf Coast and along the Mississippi River. Leaves have yellow to orange to red fall color, though not as intense as scarlet oaks. Acorns mature after two years. 08 of 10 Overcup Oak Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Botanical Name: Quercus lyrataSun Exposure: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Type: Well-draining, clay, loamySoil pH: Acidic, neutralHeight: 40 to 60 feetSpread: 30 to 40 feet The overcup oak has loads of character, especially as a young tree. It has scaly bark and dark green leaves that turn yellow-brown in fall. It tolerates many kinds of soils and holds its leaves well into winter, then drops them all at once. It’s named for its acorn cap that covers most of the fruit. It grows in low-lying areas along streams, ponds, and rivers where there may be standing water or occasional flooding, and can grow along the coast. 09 of 10 Shumard Oak Rebekah D. Wallace, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Botanical Name: Quercus shumardiiSun Exposure: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Type: Moist, well-drained, clay, loamy, sandySoil pH: AcidicHeight: 40 to 60 feetSpread: 30 to 40 feet Shumard oaks are reliable medium-sized oaks with handsome pointy-lobed leaves and small acorns, which aren’t produced until the tree is 25 years old. It tolerates many soil types and also turns lovely red and orange hues in fall. It also tolerates air pollution and drought for city dwellers. 10 of 10 Swamp Chestnut Oak Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University Botanical Name: Quercus michauxiiSun Exposure: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Type: Moist, well-drained, clay, loamy, sandySoil pH: AcidicHeight: 40 to 60 feetSpread: 30 to 50 feet This deciduous oak is native to lowland and swampy areas so it can tolerate more moisture than other types. The leaves are shiny green with rounded teeth and wavy margins and are similar to those of the chestnut oak. Swamp chestnut oak prefers sandy soils. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Southern Living is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. American Kennel Club. Can Dogs Eat Acorns and Other Tree Nuts? NC State Extension. Quercus. Oklahoma State University. Got oak? Be careful.