Live Oak is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 7 through 10 and shrugs off deer.
Zones
7-10
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Live Oak on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether live oak actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score live oak against your land's real conditions.
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What Live Oak is
Live Oak grows as a perennial and reaches around 50 feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in early spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Live Oak
Live Oak grows in USDA zones 7 through 10. Live Oak does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained to fast-draining ground. It needs a growing season of at least 150 frost-free days and about 100 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
7-10
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells), excessive (dry/moderately dry)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
44.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
50 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
100+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
150+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set live oak in full sun with well-drained to fast-draining soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Live Oak prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — live oak isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Live Oak isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Live Oak thrives
Live Oak is hardy across USDA zones 7 through 10. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 7–10·Where Live Oak growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Live Oak can grow in these states:
See if Live Oak will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether live oak actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Live Oak in my zone?
Live Oak grows in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 10 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Live Oak?
Set live oak out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Live Oak need?
Live Oak needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Live Oak need?
Live Oak prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained to fast-draining ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Live Oak attract pollinators?
Live Oak isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Live Oak safe for pets?
Live Oak is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.