I just found an article about Quercus laurifolia being a laurel swamp oak and hemisphaerica being a laurel sand oak.

Both are weed trees here in the Deep South, much like Water Oak. They grow fast, but they're also weak wooded and start to decay and break apart. The leaves are difficult to rake up and they fall all winter long requiring constant clean up. The acorns also get into every nook and cranny and germinate very easily. There are much better choices out there in my opinion.

Alabamatreehugger,

Thanks for your reply.
What would be a better choice for an evergreen or semi-evergreen oak that will do well in clay soil that is hardy to 0-10 degrees farenheit?

I don't really have a suggestion for an evergreen oak that's hardy to zone 6. You MAY be able to find a more northern seed source (VA or NC) for Live Oak that'll survive.

I can tell you though that Laurel Oak will not be evergreen in zone 6. Even here in zone 8 they start shedding leaves in the fall, it just happens so slowly that they don't get done until spring.

Quercus fusiformis - been happily growing here since 1992.

Well, not as happily at -28F in 1994 and this year's low temps and ice storms - but toughing it out and evergreen through and through.

Should scream "Hallelujah!" to have relatively benign SC climate....

Really? There were some fusiformis that died here in MD at much warmer temps than that, about -16ðF.

Really? There were some fusiformis that died here in MD at much warmer temps than that, about -16ðF.

Really? There were some fusiformis that died here in MD at much warmer temps than that, about -16ðF.

Never mind...I think I was thinking of Q. myrsinifolia.

I have two Quercus Virginiana trees that have been in the ground since 2008. The cold temps we had in January- several 5F degree nights with days below 32F has taken a toll on them.
They are about 20 feet tall.

I know that a lot of Darlington Oaks were planted in the 1960's in my area and have done well.

Third times a charm, eh hairmetal4ever?

I received this Quercus fusiformis seedling at 4" tall from Steve Bieberich out in Oklahoma. Except for that impressive low temp winter while it was still wee (and under the snow), this tree has been a trooper.

It doesn't like ice loads, but it has straightened up each time the ice melts (2003, 2009, 2014 - and another on the way this evening, knock on wood) and kept going.

All its leaves are pretty winter burned right now, but I expect that with some spring warmth that new growth will emerge from the buds.

It has had acorns the past two seasons.

I am not aware of Quercus fusiformis growing in SC. I am interested in it.

Your existing Live oaks may look bad, but may come back in spring. I have hybrid Q. Virginiana in Pa zone 6. They breezed through last winter, and I am hoping like hell they survive this winter. I think the buds will put out nice leaves in spring. The buds look undamaged, although the leaves are tan, the leaves are still holding, so I have faith in the buds to releaf in spring. I have a Durand oak that kept it's leaves last winter. This winter I haven't checked it, the ground hasn't been dry enough for me to walk over the hill where the Durand is. My Q. Fusiformis is less hardy than my hybrid Q. Virginiana "late drop". The plant sources surely vary though.