Laurel Oak
Quercus laurifolia
Last reviewed: November 2026
Quercus laurifolia, or laurel oak, is a fast growing shade tree common in bottomlands and along riverbanks across the Southeast, blooming in March through May.
Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Laurel Oak, free in the app.
Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Laurel Oak as toxic to livestock.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
480"–960" H × 360"–480" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
AL, AR, FL, GA and 7 more states
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Laurel Oak is a fast-growing shade tree with glossy, elongated leaves that remain on the tree through most of winter. It develops a broad, rounded canopy that provides excellent shade for large properties and can reach 40-80 feet tall and wide at maturity.
Growing Laurel Oak
Grow Laurel Oak in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 480 to 960 inches tall and spread 360 to 480 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Laurel Oak takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Tree size exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
Wildlife value
This oak supports hundreds of butterfly and moth caterpillar species and provides acorns for squirrels, birds, and other wildlife. The spring flowers attract various pollinators including bees and beneficial insects.
Common questions
- When does laurel oak bloom?
- Laurel oak produces its inconspicuous catkin flowers in spring, generally from March through May, before or as new leaves emerge.
- Does laurel oak keep its leaves year round?
- Laurel oak is often described as semi-evergreen. It holds most of its narrow, glossy leaves through winter in milder climates and drops them shortly before new growth appears in spring.
- What kind of soil moisture does laurel oak need?
- Laurel oak tolerates a wide range of moisture and grows well in medium moisture soils but is also found naturally in low, wet bottomlands and near streams where soils stay consistently damp.
- How much light does laurel oak need to thrive?
- Laurel oak grows best in full sun but can tolerate part sun to part shade, especially as a younger tree before it develops its broad canopy.
- How fast does laurel oak grow and how large does it get?
- Laurel oak is one of the faster growing oaks, capable of reaching 60 to 100 feet in height at maturity, though this rapid growth is often paired with a shorter lifespan than slower growing oak species.
- Is Laurel Oak toxic to dogs?
- Laurel Oak is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
- Is Laurel Oak toxic to cats?
- Laurel Oak is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
- Is Laurel Oak toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Laurel Oak as toxic to livestock.
- Is Laurel Oak HOA-friendly?
- Laurel Oak takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Laurel Oak? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.