Evergreen Quercus Recommendations & Sources

13 years ago

Hi Folks -

I am looking for recommendations on evergreen oaks that will thrive in my N.C. USDA Zone 7A garden. I know that they will grow here successfully because I have seen them dotted about. Not knowing how to exactly ID them, I do not know if they are Quercius virginiana or not. (I assume they are.)

Also, I would like to know of a mail order source for your recommendations or a nursery within a reasonable driving distance that may sell them. I am in the Triad area (Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point). No one around here does.

Many thanks!

PlantMarker

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Comments (10)

GAAlan
13 years ago
My first thought is Blue Japanese Oak(Quercus glauca). Makes a very dense haystack shaped tree. There are numerous mature ones in the neighborhood and they are very impressive. Chinese evergreen Oak(Q. myrsinifolia) is another good one. It is a bit hardier than glauca if you have cold winters. Also a bit more upright at maturity.
plantmarker
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks, gaalan -

I am so fond of viewing the huge, stately Quercus virginiana on my visits to coastal Carolina. These trees are so awe-inspiring with the sheer size of their canopy and wide-reaching limbs. As close as I can come to that in my locale, the happier I will be.

Any local garden sources in my area or mail or recemmendations would be appreciated.

Regards,

PlantMarker
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lou_spicewood_tx
13 years ago
Do you get heavy snow? Live oak in Dallas didn't tolerate 12 inches of snow very well from what I saw last winter.

I wonder about Mexican white oak (Q. polymorpha). Not sure how cold hardy it is but they sure grow fast compared to Live Oak. Leaves are several times larger and it feels leathery to me. Nearly evergreen here in Dallas. May drop leaves if it gets cold enough in your area but I have no idea.
georgeinbandonoregon
13 years ago
cant say what oaks would do best for you but mail-order sources for a wide variety of oaks (evergreen and otherwise) you might consider include forestfarm, woodlanders, nearly native nursery, mailorder natives, and mossyoak nursery. hope this helps. good luck.
Embothrium
13 years ago
Also this place. Some years they have a much bigger selection. They grow their own stock from seeds and cuttings, assortment varies with supply and other circumstances.

Here is a link that might be useful: Colvos Creek Nursery Catalog 2010
lucky_p
13 years ago
Plantmarker
This topic comes up regularly, from time to time. In Zone 7, I'd hazard a guess that you could probably succeed with Q.virginiana, particularly if it were grown from acorns from trees thriving at a northern/inland site.
I have a couple of Q.virginiana seedlings here, 70 mi NW of Nashville TN, grown from acorns collected at Auburn AL - pretty far inland for Q.virginiana. These are 10 yrs old now, and while all the leaves burned off last winter, it re-leafed, and I've had no noticeable die-back, thus far.
Our friend rhizo1, who may weigh in on this thread yet, knows of a Q.virginiana growing and producing acorns, in Huntsville, AL, as it's growing of the yard of her husband's former home.
There is a 40-yr old live oak on the campus of the community college, across the street from my office - granted, it's in a very protected spot; I'm not a taxonomist or botanist, but I suspect it's probably Q.fusiformis, as it is a multi-stemmed 'copse', probably 20 ft tall, and 30+ ft wide.
One of my colleagues, who is a retired agronomy professor at Murray State University, 60 miles west of me, has several live oaks, of various species, that he's been growing for 25-30 years, from acorns he collected on his travels; he's related no significant winter damage, though I've not discussed them with him since we had a devastating ice storm in Jan 2009, that wreaked havoc on all native trees in a wide swath across southern KY.
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
13 years ago
Evergreen oaks for you to research:

Q. virginiana from acorns of established northern specimens (rather than Florida-grown).

Q. virginiana var. fusiformis. Try to get acorns or plants from the Quartz Mountain trees (native to Western Oklahoma). These are hardier than virginiana and are nearly as beautiful.

Q. hemisphearica (semi-evergreen) Darlington oak. Form is more like a willow oak. Leaves drop at around 10 degrees...usually in January. A few may hang on. Laurel oak is similar.

Q. phillyraeoides (Ubame Oak). I think Forest Farm has these. I have one up here in zone 7. Only in the ground for 3 years, but so far no problems. Completely evergreen. Maybe more attractive than virginiana. Probably slower growing?

Q. myrsinifolia. Chinese evergreen oak is definately hardier than Q. glauca (although if you are 7B, you may be OK). Leaves are usually narrower.

I've not tried any of the Southwestern natives, so can't comment.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
link in FL ... but call and see if they have retailers in NC ...

check their TREE AVAILABILITY ...

the stick this in google.. and see where you get : wholesale oak tree sellers in NC

or just copy paste this:

http://www.google.com/search?q=wholesale+oak+sellers+in+NC&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&expIds=17259,17291,25532,25907,27342,27615,27642,27732,27762,27868&sugexp=gsihc&xhr=t&q=wholesale+oak+tree+sellers+in+NC&cp=19&pf=p&sclient=psy&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=MCa&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=8bc48c66f0d3c525

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: try the link..
scotjute Z8
13 years ago
Your North Carolina Forestry Dept. lists that they have 1,000 live oak seedlings for sale. Would recommend placing an order with them.
Pamchesbay
13 years ago
When I checked the NC Forestry nursery site, live oak seedlings were listed as "unavailable." (link below) That status may change.

Although I live in VA, I've ordered from NC Forestry for 3 years - they provide high quality seedlings at very reasonable prices (and sell to people like me from other states). Depending on what you want, you may have to order early.

Here is a link that might be useful: NC Nursery - Oaks

Evergreen Quercus Recommendations & Sources

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GAAlan

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Evergreen Quercus Recommendations & Sources

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