Quercus geminata aka Sand Live Oak

Quercus geminata, or sand live oak, is an evergreen tree. It also grows as a shrub in its native range. This oak belongs to the beech family, Fagaceae. It comes from the coastal plain of the southeastern United States. Its range runs from Louisiana to North Carolina and through Florida. It grows on dunes, sandhills, and scrub. It also lives in hardwood woods and upland pine forests.

In gardens, it reaches 20–50 feet [6.1–15.2 metres] tall and wide. Some trees grow taller than this range. Growth is slow, with an open, rounded, or uneven crown. The bark is dark brown, rough, and deeply grooved. Young twigs have pale tan or gray hairs. They become smooth in their second year. The thick, leathery leaves grow in an alternate pattern. Each simple leaf has an oval shape and smooth edges. The edges curl inward, and deep veins mark the surface. Leaves measure about 1.5–2.5 inches long. Their tops are dark green. Their gray to whitish undersides carry few to many hairs.

Flowers appear in spring, with separate male and female flowers. The flower clusters include catkins. Dark brown, egg-shaped acorns ripen each fall. They grow alone or in groups of up to three. Each nut reaches about an inch long. A pale gray, scaly cup covers about one-third of it. Mammals eat the acorns, and the plant gives wildlife cover. Its foliage also feeds butterfly and moth larvae.

Grow sand live oak in full sun or partial shade. It suits sandy or loamy soil with good drainage. Acid to neutral soil meets its stated needs. It tolerates drought and salt exposure. Salt tolerance does not extend to flooding by brackish or salt water. Its listed USDA hardiness range is zones 7a–10b. Care needs are low. Growers can raise new plants from seed.

Use this oak as a specimen or landscape accent. Its colonies can help hold soil on banks and slopes. Much of its mass lies underground, helping it regrow after fire. Its wood also has a use as lumber. Oak insect pests and diseases can affect this species. The source rates its poison hazard as low. Acorns can cause gut pain and other illness when eaten. They can also block the digestive tract. The plant poses a risk to horses.