When talking about the trees in Georgia, the oak (Quercus spp.) deserves a special mention.While the United States is home to nearly 90 species of oaks, in Georgia, over 30 kinds of oaks can be found. Learning more about these oaks can be a fun activity for both residents and non-residents of Georgia.Oaks are a group of plants that are a part of the Fagaceae family, also known as the beech family. While various kinds of oaks exist throughout the world, in the US, oaks are typically categorized into white oaks and red oaks. There are certain distinguishing characters between red oaks and white oaks. For instance, red oaks have pointed lobes in their leaves, while white oaks are characterized by smooth and rounded leaves.Apart from red and white oak trees, oaks are also categorized as deciduous and evergreen oak trees. While southern red oaks are deciduous, the famous southern live oak is an evergreen oak.Oaks not only enhance the beauty of their surroundings but also sustain their ecosystem. Hence, they form an integral part of any environment they are in.To learn more about the oaks of Georgia, keep reading!How To Plant An Oak Tree Step By StepEven though oaks are quite large and mighty, they start their life cycle as small acorns. So, to grow your own red or white oak tree, all you need is good-quality acorns and lots of patience! Here are the steps to help you plant your very own oak tree.First off, you need to make sure you collect good-quality acorns. You can collect acorns during the fall season. Avoid any green or dark brown acorns. While green acorns are still too young, dark brown usually indicates rot.Next, get a small container or flowering pot and mix in some sand with peat-free compost. This compost should be damp. Prepare multiple composts corresponding to the number of healthy and suitable acorns you’ve collected.Then, sow one acorn in each container, and cover it with 0.8-1.2 in (2-3 cm) of the compost. Make sure that the pointed end of the acorn is towards the upper soil surface.Now, store your compost containers in a cool and shady place away from the sun. This kind of setting and temperature will ensure that the acorns germinate successfully. It’s essential to remember that white oak acorns start germinating immediately. However, acorns of the red group don’t start germinating until the beginning of spring.In both cases, once the acorns have sprouted, add water to the compost once or twice. This prevents dryness.As the seedlings grow, transfer them to a larger pot. After one or two years, your young plants will be ready to be planted in your backyard or in any open space. Make sure there are a lot of areas that can sustain the growth of the trees. Different Types Of Oak TreesWhen it comes to oak trees, the species diversity is quite spectacular. Overall, there are about 500 types of oak trees present throughout the world. The diversity of oak species can be observed the most in North America, where the United States alone has about 90 different oak tree varieties. While every oak tree is special in its own way, broadly speaking, the United States has two types of oaks; the white oak species and the red oak species.The state of Georgia consists of both white oak and red oak trees, and hence, it is a perfect spot in the United States to catch a glimpse of some of the most intriguing oak tree varieties. Let us now take a look at some of the oak trees present in Georgia!Southern Red Oak: As the name suggests, the Southern red oak, with the scientific name Quercus falcata, is a member of the red oak group. This oak tree with a straight trunk is also known as Spanish oak because it’s often found in areas that were previously Spanish colonies. This red oak species is deciduous in nature, and its sharply pointed leaves and curved lobes fall at the end of every growing season. Other characteristics of southern red oaks include their height, which reaches a maximum of 100 ft (30.5 m), and their small acorns, which have a length of 0.5 in (1.3 cm).Chinkapin Oak: Belonging to the group of white oaks, the chinkapin oak tree is particularly well-known for being used as a construction material. Some of its other distinguishing characters include its leaves, which have teeth-like serrated margins. Additionally, the underside of the leaves is hairy. Chinkapin oaks are also famous for their acorns. Being naturally sweet in taste, the acorns from these white oak trees are common food materials for squirrels, deer, chipmunks, and a few other animals.Black Oak: Despite what the name might make you think, black oak is actually a member of the red oak trees group. Black oaks have varied heights in different parts of their geographical range. While in the northern range, it has a maximum height of 82 ft (25 m), in its central and southern ranges, including the state of Georgia, these oak trees grow up to be 138 ft (42 m). A black oak tree has large and leathery leaves that appear shiny green on top and are hairy on its underside. The acorns of the black oak variety are unique, as half of its length is covered with a cap, making it look like a pixie hat.Swamp Chestnut Oak: The swamp chestnut oak tree, a type of white oak, is another oak species present in Georgia. This is a deciduous tree variety that has rounded teeth-like margins on both sides of its leaves. Each leaf of the swamp chestnut oak measures between 4-11 in (10-28 cm) in length. The tree itself reaches a maximum height of 65 ft (20 m). This species of the white oak tree is well-known for its appearance, as we often find it lining the streets. A variety of animals eats the acorns of this species, including squirrels, chipmunks, and cattle.Features Of Oak TreesWhile every oak tree has various special and interesting features, let’s take a look at the features of some of the well-known oak species found in Georgia. With this handy guide, you can easily distinguish between the species of oaks in the state.While most oak trees are unique because of their serrated leaf margin, the willow oak stands out because it has leaves with entire margins that lack any lobes or serrations. The leaves of willow oak are 5 in (12.7 cm) in length and are often compared to the leaves of willow trees. Some other features of this willow oak include its ability to sustain itself in a highly toxic environment, and its acorn production, which starts when the plant is about 15 years old, making it an early producer among oak trees.Two species of oak trees with quite a similar name are swamp laurel oak and laurel oak. The laurel oak is also known as the Darlington oak. The scientific name of both these species alludes to their special features. The swamp laurel oak, Quercus laurifolia, is called so due to the presence of laurel-like leaves. Darlington oak, Quercus hemisphaerica, has been named because of a hemispherical tree crown. Both these oak trees can grow up to 100 ft (30.5 m). However, while swamp laurel oaks grow best in floodplains, the Darlington oak is more commonly seen in sandy areas.With oak trees that are highly tolerant to drought, scarlet oak is one of the first names to come to mind. Scarlet oak has been named so because of its aesthetic red leaves, which have seven pointed lobes and sometimes bear tufts of hair on their undersides. The scarlet oak is a member of the red oak group and is often confused with another one of the red oaks, known as the pin oak.However, unlike the pin oak tree, which has U-shaped leaf sinuses, the scarlet oak has C-shaped sinuses. Interestingly, while the pin oak trees are not native to Georgia, they are commonly planted in the urban areas of the state. The pin oak canopy is its most distinct feature, with the branches on the upper-end pointing upwards, the branches in the middle being at right angles to the main axis of the plant body, and the branches towards the bottom pointing down. Other Interesting Facts About Oak TreesThere are a ton of interesting facts about oak trees, and especially the common oak species that are found in Georgia.While white oaks are quite common in Georgia, the most famous white oak species is definitely the southern live oak (Quercus virginiana), which belongs to a broader group of live oaks, which has evergreen oak trees. We designate this live oak as the state tree of Georgia because of its deep cultural associations with the south. The southern live oak leaves are oblong with entire margins. These leaves lack any tiny bristles at their tips.In Georgia, one of the most famous specimens of the southern live oak is the ’lover’s oak’. This tree is estimated to be over 900 years in age, and the name was given, as some Native Americans believed this is where young lovers met.The southern live oak is also quite an essential part of its ecosystem, as it sustains the growth of the resurrection fern, ball moss, Spanish moss, and mistletoe on its branches.Another oak with an entire margin is the water oak (Quercus nigra) tree. However, some specimens have lobes. Water oak tree is a part of the red oaks community of Georgia. Young water oaks have a smooth bark that appears brown. However, with maturity, there is the appearance of scaly ridges, besides the bark becoming darker.An interesting fact about these red oaks is that they get easily damaged by fire.An interesting oak that is not native to Georgia but has been planted in several urban and suburban regions in the state is the bur oak of the white oaks group. The bur oak is famous for having the largest acorns compared to the acorns of all other oak trees in North America. In fact, its species name ‘macrocarpa’ translates to ’large-fruited oak’.The bur oak is also quite resistant to drought, and its root system is the probable cause for that. This tree has an extensive taproot that helps the tree to survive during a lack of water. Apart from bur, post oak, a native white oak of Georgia, is also resistant to drought, besides fire and rot. The post oak leaves are quite interesting because of the lobes of the leaves being placed like a cross.With the unique and interesting leaves of oak trees, it’s important to mention blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica). The blackjack oak leaves have bell-shaped bases and lobes at the top. The leaves are dark green and glossy, with hairy growths on the underside.Unfortunately, the blackjack oak, one of the red oaks of Georgia, is often under-appreciated because of being considered ‘ugly.’ However, these trees can grow in areas where no other tree can survive, as they are quite sturdy and tolerant of unfavorable environments.Georgia is also home to Nuttall’s oak, one of the most beautiful oak trees, which is also the fastest-growing oak and provides ample acorns for animals to enjoy.
When talking about the trees in Georgia, the oak (Quercus spp.) deserves a special mention.
