Oak Cultivar That Thrives in the Heat

This arid-weather-loving oak tree is a fast-growing cultivar that is designed to thrive in hot and dry locations. The Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak is ready to grow and give you dense shade with very low maintenance.

The Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak is a smaller tree that reaches heights between 20-30 ft. with a canopy that's also 20-30 ft. This canopy produces dense shade to give you reprieve from those hot summer days. 

Plus, this shade will last you all year because the leaves of the Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak tree are evergreen. These leathery, dark green leaves with soft and fuzzy undersides only shed briefly in the spring to make room for the new growth. 

Perfect for residential landscapes or streetscapes due to its manageable size, the Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak won’t cause you any extra stress. It’s resistant to diseases and pests like rabbits and deer so you don’t have to worry about damage. 

Although this tree is native to the southern United States and is known for being heat tolerant, it’s also cold hardy. You get the best of both with this tree being tolerant to both long periods of drought and freezing temperatures.

Snag your Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak Tree and get up to 30 ft. of dense shade for your outdoor space!

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Do not plant too close to structures, streets, or sidewalks, and ensure you select an area with well-drained soil and enough sunlight per day.

Dig your hole and make it twice as wide as the diameter and as deep as the depth of the root ball. Keep the tree straight as you back fill the soil, gently tamping down the soil with your shovel until it's firm. Water the planting area thoroughly, allowing the water to really soak into the ground. Spread a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch around the tree.

2. Watering: Over-watering is a common tree care mistake. A damp soil that dries for a short period will allow adequate oxygen to permeate the soil. As a rule of thumb, your soil should be kept moist. Usually 30 seconds with a steady stream of water from a garden hose once a week in the cooler seasons is sufficient. In warmer climates, you may need to water 2 to 3 times weekly. Cease watering during the winter.

3. Fertilizing: Oak Trees experience a quick spurt of growth in the spring, followed by slower spurts of growth throughout the summer and fall seasons. Apply your fertilizer in the early spring before this initial spring growth spurt starts. The best fertilizers for oaks are those with a nutrient ratio of 12-6-6 or 12-4-8. While a healthy Live Oak doesn't technically require fertilization, occasional feeding can help boost tree growth and acorn production.

4. Pruning: Pruning your tree during the winter months will allow it to care for its wounds in spring, when it will recover more quickly. At first, limit trimming only to dead or broken branches on newly planted trees. Two to three years after planting, you can begin developmental trimming to shape the tree.