Live Oak Tree Day
Live Oak Tree Day is March 17th
Live Oak Tree Day honors one of America’s most iconic and enduring trees. Celebrated on March 17, when spring begins awakening across the South, the day recognizes the strength, beauty, and history of the live oak. With its wide, sweeping branches and draping moss, the live oak is more than a tree; it is a symbol of resilience, heritage, and Southern charm.
Live Oak Tree Day is an Epic Tree Holiday celebrating the most amazing and unique Trees on Earth. It is a day to remember the importance of protecting the earth and trees.
The live oak tree is a symbol of strength and resilience. These epic trees can live for hundreds of years and have the ability to withstand strong winds and survive in wetland areas. They grow well in humid, subtropical climates and are often found near rivers or wetland areas because their roots extend deep into the ground to search for water. They also produce small acorns that can be eaten by animals such as deer or squirrels.
The Origins of Live Oak Tree Day
Live Oak Tree Day was created by Patti Jewel and the HolidaySmart Visionary Team. With a team of tree lovers, they decided that there were not enough days to celebrate Trees. The Epic Tree Holidays began with an epic tree being named each month.
Why March 17?
March 17 falls during early spring, when renewal and growth begin to show. In many Southern communities, live oaks remain green year-round, symbolizing life and continuity even through winter. It’s a perfect day to celebrate enduring strength and new beginnings under a spreading canopy.
All About the Live Oak
The most well-known species is Quercus virginiana, native to the southeastern United States.
Where It Grows
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Virginia to Florida
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Gulf Coast states including Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas
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Coastal plains and sandy soils
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Parks, historic plantations, town squares, and city streets
Size & Characteristics
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Height: 40–80 feet tall
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Spread: Often wider than it is tall, with canopies stretching over 100 feet
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Lifespan: Several hundred years, sometimes longer
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Leaves: Thick, leathery, and evergreen (hence the name “live” oak)
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Branches: Massive, twisting limbs that extend horizontally
Live oaks are famous for supporting curtains of Spanish moss and creating cathedral-like archways over roads and walkways.
What Makes the Live Oak Epic?
🌿 It Lives Long and Strong
Live oaks can survive hurricanes, coastal storms, and harsh weather thanks to dense wood and deep roots.
🌿 It Helped Build America
Live oak wood was prized for shipbuilding, including the USS Constitution, because of its strength and natural curved grain.
🌿 It Defines Southern Landscapes
From Savannah squares to Louisiana plantations, live oaks frame some of the most photographed scenes in the United States.
🌿 It Symbolizes Endurance
With branches that stretch outward for generations, the live oak represents stability, rootedness, and legacy.
The Live Oak Tree is the Georgia (U.S. State) Tree
The Live Oak is Georgia's State Tree, adopted in 1959, and has been used as a symbol in Georgia since 1856.
How to Celebrate Live Oak Tree Day
Draw a picture of a Live Oak tree
Live Oak trees are an iconic tree representing strength and resilience. See if you can draw a live oak tree that showcases these traits and share your drawings.
Plant a Live Oak Tree
If you are looking for a new type of tree in your yard, consider planting a live oak! It's beautiful and will make your property more unique than any other tree on the block. Plus, it'll give you something to talk about with all your friends who have never seen one before!
To plant a live oak tree in your yard, it's important to find a place where it will have plenty of room to grow. Live oak trees need plenty of water, so make sure the soil is wet before you start planting. You'll also want to dig a hole that is twice as deep as the tree's root ball and slightly wider than the root ball itself. Be sure to loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole before putting the tree in, and then pack soil around the roots once it's in place. Finally, water thoroughly!
Find Live Oak trees in your backyard or community
Are there live oak trees around your neighborhood or community? Today is a great day to get out and see how many of these beautiful trees you can find. Make it a challenge with your friends to find the most epic live oak tree.
Share images of Live Oak Trees on your social media
Share images of the Live Oaks around your community or parks.
Have a Live Oak Tree contest to see who can take the coolest Picture
Get your followers involved and have a contest to see who has taken the best Live Oak tree picture. Take your kids to the park and take pictures of every Live Oak and see who gets the best shot.
How Live Oak Tree Day Unites People
Live Oak Trees represent things we want to be as a people, a family, a community; strength and longevity. Live oaks give us a place to gather, a place to play, and a landscape full of beauty and history.
Across generations, people have married beneath them, held markets beneath them, rested in their shade, and rebuilt after storms around their roots.
Live Oak Tree Day reminds us that like the oak, we are strongest when deeply rooted and broadly connected. When we celebrate this tree, we celebrate endurance, heritage, and the shared spaces that bring us together.
