In contrast, southern live oaks have smooth, thick leathery leaves. Most red oak varieties have pointed lobes with bristled tips. For example, white oaks have characteristic leaves with a broad, rounded apex and deep rounded lobes along the margins. The oak leaf shape and lobed margins help identify individual species of Florida oak trees. Bark on Florida white oaks is typically light gray, and red oaks have dark, almost black bark. The bark develops deep grooves and raised ridges as the tree matures, giving a rough, fissured appearance and feel. Florida Oak Tree Barkįlorida oak trees have smooth, silvery-brown bark when the tree is young. In Florida, live oak trees typically grow up to 66 ft. The most common live oak species in Florida is the southern live oak, with its identifiable draping of Spanish moss hanging from branches. Live oaks have smooth, dark-green glossy, oblong leaves and small egg-shaped dark-colored acorns. Florida Live Oak Treesįlorida live oaks are evergreen trees, identified by their gnarled, horizontally growing branches and spreading, open crown. Red oaks in Florida typically grow 60 to 75 ft. The brown oval nuts have a very bitter and unpleasant taste. Unlike white oaks, acorns growing on red oaks take two growing seasons to mature. Florida Red Oak Treesįlorida red oak trees are identified by their deciduous lobed leaves with bristled, pointed tips. White oak trees in Florida typically grow 50 to 80 ft. White oak acorns mature in six months and have a sweet or slightly bitter taste after leeching the tannins. The lobed tips don’t have the characteristic bristles of some red oak leaves. Florida White Oak Treeįlorida white oak trees have smooth, obovate leathery leaves with rounded tips and lobes around the margins. Oak trees in Florida can grow between 60 and 100 ft. However, some oaks are only cold-hardy in zones 9 and 10 and only grow south of Orlando.įlorida’s oak trees are famous for their tall stature with densely growing foliage that provides plenty of shade. Oaks suitable for northern Florida grow in USDA zones 5 to 9.
#Florida tree leaf guide full#
Native Florida oak trees thrive in full sun and withstand the humid conditions in the state. In addition, southern live oaks are found throughout Florida - from Miami and the Florida Keys in the South to Jacksonville and Tallahassee in Northern Florida. White and red oaks are generally found north of Orlando and Tampa, as well as in Florida’s panhandle. The live oak is a type of white oak, but it’s an evergreen Florida oak tree. Deciduous Florida oak trees are in the red oak and white oak groups. Mature oak trees only start producing acorns after growing for 20 to 30 years.Ĭommon oak trees in Florida are divided into three categories - two are deciduous, and one is evergreen. The smooth light brown to dark brown nuts sit in a scaly cap called a cupule. Oak tree fruits are oval acorns with rounded or pointed tips. The impressive large trees have an identifiable rounded or pyramidal crown, brown or black nuts in a warty cap, and leaves that grow spirally on woody branches. There are over 450 species of oak trees, 19 of which are native to Florida. However, some species of oaks in Florida have leaves without lobes that look like willow or laurel leaves. Many species of oak trees are identified by their characteristic obovate or oblong leaves with deeply lobed margins. Oak trees are flowering trees or large shrubs in the genus Quercus. Descriptions and pictures of oak trees in Florida’s landscape will help you recognize these stately deciduous and evergreen trees. This article is a guide to identifying the most common oak trees growing in Florida. Florida is home to many species of white oaks, red oaks, and the southern live oak tree. The oak trees are identified by their vast, spreading crowns, thick trunks covered in rough, gray bark, leathery leaves, and acorns in varying shapes and sizes. From the evergreen southern live oak trees that thrive in South Florida to the deciduous oak trees like the Shumard oak and willow oak in the north, you will find a wide variety of oak tree species.įlorida’s oak trees are some of the most beautiful and majestic trees growing in the state. Many oak trees are native to Florida and grow throughout the Sunshine State. Oak trees in Florida are an important part of the landscape. Email Pinterest Facebook Twitter Linkedin
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