The Society of Municipal Arborists has named the Live Oak -- Quercus virginiana -- as the 2013 Urban Tree of the Year.
The official state tree of Georgia, the live oak was selected this year because it's an "excellent specimen," suitable as a street tree, "strongly reminiscent of the Old South," and because it is extremely tolerant of hurricane force winds. Usually accompanied by Spanish moss hanging from its branches, it's also an unusually beautiful tree, and maybe with global warming, we'll one day be able to grow it up here on Cape Cod!
It's current range is zones 8-10, but it does best in warmer locations in those areas. The usual height is about 40-80 feet, with a spread of 60 to 100 feet. It's a fast grower when young -- two to three feet per year -- but its growth rate slows with age. The tree has excellent pest and disease resistance, and it's resistant as well to salt. The current champion live oak is near Louisburg, LA, with a crown spread of 139 feet and a height of 68 feet. Wow!
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