Live Oak

Quercus virginiana

Zones: 8a to 10b

Iconic Southern Shade Tree
Long-Lived

Pet & Human Safety

People: Toxic to people (low severity)Pets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

Not applicable. Not a food plant

Hazard type

Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.

Hazard route

ingestion

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

Pet safety note: this species is confirmed toxic to horses by two sources, but NEITHER source gives a direct, named toxicity verdict for dogs or cats: do not read the 'toxic' value below as covering dogs/cats. Recorded as 'toxic' because a single toxic/non-toxic label can't represent a species-dependent verdict; the operative, source-backed claim is 'toxic to horses,' plus a separate human-hazard finding from raw acorns/young leaves.

ASPCA and NC State list oak as toxic to horses: the gallotannins cause abdominal pain, constipation then bloody diarrhea, and jaundice. Neither source says dogs or cats are affected. Separately, NC State documents a human hazard from eating young leaves or raw acorns (stomach pain, constipation then bloody diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination). Keep pets from eating acorns or leaves.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: USDA zones 8a to 10b
Mature size: 40-80 feet tall, 30-100 feet wide, often with gnarled, spreading branches that can reach further than the tree is tall (NC State Extension).
Family: Fagaceae (beech family)
Where it comes from: Southeastern US Coastal Plain, from southeastern Virginia south to Florida and west to eastern Texas, with some populations in Mexico (NC State Extension).

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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