Having similar characteristics to the ' Virginia Live Oak', this Florida Native doesn't grow as big and it can tolerate drier, sandy soils with no watering needed once established. Provides significant food and shelter for many wildlife. It is the larval host plant to the: Oak Hairstreak, Horace's Duskywing, Red-banded Hairstreak and White-M Hairstreak butterfly.
How to care for Sand Live Oak
Light. Full sun is best; it also takes part sun.
Water. Water while it establishes. After that it needs no supplemental water and handles very long dry periods.
Soil and feeding. It wants dry to moist, well-drained sandy soil. It prefers some organic matter but grows reasonably well in poor soil.
Size. Listed at 50 ft or more; in South Florida it typically reaches 20–40 ft and is often as wide as tall. Growth is slow.
Good to know. A Florida native with good hurricane wind resistance. Larval host for oak hairstreak and Horace's duskywing butterflies; squirrels, birds and deer eat the acorns. It tolerates some salty wind but not direct salt spray.
Sources: Natives for Your Neighborhood (Institute for Regional Conservation): Quercus geminata · Florida Native Plant Society: Quercus geminata
