Campus Tree Tour
Fagaceae – Beech Family
In 2024, this laurel oak measured 75 feet tall and had a diameter of 43 inches. Based on USDA Forest Service models, it will absorb approximately 2,445 lbs. of carbon over the next 20 years. Put simply, this tree alone will offset up to 9,892 car miles worth of carbon dioxide.
See all species on our Campus Tree Tour.
Introduction
The laurel oak, or the swamp laurel oak, is a fast-growing medium-sized tree native to the Southeastern United States. It closely resembles the darlington oak (Quercus hemisphaerica) but can be distinguished by its diamond-shaped leaves and presence in swampy environments. This oak has commercial value in the urban landscaping and timber industries, and it serves as a resource for wildlife, providing food and shelter to various animal species.
Physical Description
Life expectancy: 50 to 70 years, up to 200 years in nature
Height: 60 – 70 feet, can grow over 100 ft.
Crown: 35 – 45 feet
Diameter: Up to 48 inches
Bark: Greyish brown that darkens with maturity. It is thin, and tight to the trunk with no deep fissures. The base may be buttressed (wide) or fluted to increase stability in wet soils.
Leaves: Deciduous, simple, and alternately arranged upon the stem. Shape ranges from oval and elliptic to diamond-shaped where the leaf is wider in the middle with a narrow base and a pointed (mucronate) tip that falls off over time.
Leaf edges, or margins, are smooth but wavy (sinuate) like bacon, preventing it from lying flat. The upper surface is a glossy green with a lighter green underneath.
Twigs: Has a cluster of buds at the terminal end of the twig, a common feature of oaks.
Flowers: Yellow-green catkins (male flowers) and small spike flowers (female) are produced in the spring.
Fruits: Brown acorns (½ inch) with a reddish brown, scaly cap that covers ¼ of the nut at maturity during the fall. Contains a high tannin content that preserves the acorn and gives it a bitter taste.
Key Identification Characteristics: found in moist environments, bark, diamond-shaped leaves, deciduous mucronate tip, terminal buds.
Past and Present Uses
The laurel oak has commercial value in hardwood markets, and its timber can be used for flooring and furniture. Within Florida, it is more commonly used for pulpwood production and fuel wood. This oak is also a commonly planted tree within urban areas since its rapid growth rate creates plentiful shade in housing developments. However, the tree’s susceptibility to decay often results in a shorter lifespan, and after 50-70 years, the tree may become hazardous in urban settings.
Ecological Importance
Origin: Native to the United States
Native Range: Found in the Southeastern coastal plain of the United States from Virginia to southern Florida, and west to Texas (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Native range of Laurel Oak. Photo credit: U.S. Geological Survey
The laurel oak grows in wet, bottomland areas along creeks, rivers, and streambanks. It cannot withstand prolonged flooding, but it can move upland from its hammock into sandhill sites in the absence of fire. The laurel oak is associated with other species such as cabbage palmetto, red maple, green ash, loblolly pine, and swamp chestnut oak.
The acorns are an important food source for various small mammals and birds such as wild turkeys, ducks, and quail. Its canopy and trunk are an ideal habitat for nesting species, and a variety of insects use the tree as a host plant for their larvae.
More Information
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST549
References
Carey, J. H. (1992). Quercus hemisphaerica, Quercus laurifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/quespp1/all.html
Gilman, E. F., & Watson, D. G. (1994). Quercus laurifolia Diamond Leaf Oak. Fact Sheet ST-549. https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/quelaua.pdf
i-Tree. (2006). Tree tools - calculate the benefits of trees!. i-Tree. https://www.itreetools.org/
Quercus laurifolia. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-laurifolia/