Quercus laurifolia, also called laurel oak, Darlington oak, swamp laurel oak and diamond leaf oak, is a medium-to-large ornamental tree native to the southeastern United States. Homeowners value laurel oaks for their attractive foliage and minimal maintenance requirements. They work well as residential shade trees, as well as for highways, streets and parking lot islands, according to Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson from the University of Florida IFAS Extension website.
Identification
Laurel oak trees grow between 40 and 60 feet tall with a 30- to 40-foot spread. They have rough gray bark and rounded or pyramidal crowns. Their dark-green leaves are oval-shaped with smooth edges, and range from 2 to 4 inches long. The foliage stays green for most of the year in warm climates, but turns brown and falls to the ground in cold environments. The trees produce greenish-yellow petalless flowers called catkins in the spring; rounded brown acorns follow the catkins.
Geography and Habitat
Laurel oaks grow from east Texas through the southern portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, as well as throughout much of the state of Florida; their range extends through North and South Carolina to the southeastern tip of Virginia. They thrive in swampy landscapes and along riverbanks. They can often be found growing near swamp chestnut oaks, red maples and southern magnolia depending upon their growing location. Many animals such as turkeys, ducks and deer feed on Quercus laurifolia acorns.
Cultivation Requirements
Quercus laurifolia trees are cold-hardy in United States Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 7 through 9. They prefer full sunlight and well-drained, moist acidic soil, but they can adapt to a wide variety of growing conditions and soil types. These trees usually only live between 50 and 70 years. Their branches are brittle and susceptible to wood rot infections that can shorten the tree's life, but they live longer if they are pruned regularly. They propagate by cuttings or seeds.
Considerations
Several insect and arthropod pests feed on Quercus laurifolia trees, but they rarely cause serious problems, according to Gilman and Watson. Aphids, scale insects and mites feed on the sap from laurel oak leaves; they discolor and damage the foliage. Aphids and scales leave large deposits of a sticky-sweet liquid called honeydew on the leaves. Caterpillars feed on the foliage. Several diseases that infect laurel oaks include powdery mildew, root rot infections,and leaf spot diseases.
