Diamond Leaf Oak, Swamp Laurel Oak, Darlington Oak

Simi-Evergreen. Lifespan is normally no longer than 80 years in the wild, due to the fact that when it is not under human care, and it ro...Read Morets down the trunk from bad wounds in the past. Under a keen eye, this tree may live for a long time. It also makes a great wildlife tree. In the red oak family. I have acorns of this to trade. (Depends on season.) Grows Here in Central Florida, Zone 9a everywhere!

It was a small tree in the yard planted by the previous owners when we moved here 10 years ago. It grew fast. I didn't know about the nee...Read Mored to prune it down to one trunk so it will need to be bolted in about 20 years or so to keep it safe from heavy winds, according to an arborist who came here to take a look at it for me. It needs regular pruning to keep it out of the way of things and to thin it out to keep it safe from strong winds. It does give good shade on the south side of the house.

Regarding hurricane damage, most of the uprooted oaks I have seen this year are the UPLAND laurel oak (Quercus hemisphaerica), which is o...Read Moreften planted as a street and yard tree in central Florida. In irrigated yards they grow too fast, and get top-heavy, shallow-rooted and weak, as compared to the growth of the species in its native xeric hammock habitats.

However, I really like my swamp laurel oak, true Quercus laurifolia, growing at the edge of the yard in an area that has had standing water for at least four to six months in the past year. It survived the hurricanes (while the Quercus virginiana near it toppled), and has large (4 to 6 inch long, over 1 inch wide) light yellow-green new leaves this month.

Laurel Oak, Diamondleaf Oak, Swamp Laurel or Darlington Oak (Quercus laurifolia) is native to swamps, bottomlands, and wet, moist sites i...Read Moren the southeastern United States from southeastern Virginia and parts of the Mid-Atlantic region south through Florida, westward into Texas (zones 6a to 10b). It provides food and shelter for wildlife. However, it is a very poor tree for wind tolerance. Many of these trees in central and northern (even in parts of southern Florida and probably in other states) fell during the 2004 hurricanes (Charley, Ivan, Jeanne and Frances). They often became entirely uprooted by winds as low even as around 50 to 70 mph. They can cause serious damage (and potential life threats) to property that way if they fall on a house or uproot a driveway or walkway. If planted, it needs to have a properly planned, safe position.

This oak is identified by it's light green, thin, pointed leaves.