Thanks to the landscape trade, we’ve had literally thousands of individuals growing these oaks all over the southeast from which to choose our parent stock.  To be perfectly honest, we can’t prove that our favorites are 100% Southern live.  They might have stemmed from former crosses with other live oaks such as Texas live and/or sand live. 

What we do know, is that we’ve found live oaks that drop tastier than normal acorns at a younger than normal age, with a wide variation in acorn drop time.  The earlier dropping parents begin shedding in October, and the late droppers rain beginning in December.  Both of these traits would be perfect additions for a wide-open setting, such as:  Logging decks, cabin yards, long driveways, and pastures.  You ever noticed how gobblers have an uncanny ability to find a shady spot from which to strut their stuff on unseasonably hot spring days?  Look no further than this evergreen beauty planted all by its lonesome or as a widely spaced grove.

Although live oaks can handle a variety of sites, they don’t tolerate super cold winters, so consider hybrid Compton oak as a substitute if your winter temps frequently dip below 25°F or so.