10 Best Native Keystone Trees

White Oak

  • Scientific name: Quercus alba
  • Average Height: 50 feet to 100 feet
  • Notes: Maroon rounded leaves in the fall
 White Oak with leaf detail

Southern Red Oak

  • Scientific name: Quercus falcata
  • Average Height: 60 feet to 80 feet
  • Notes: Prefers dry soils; nice fall color
 Southern Red Oak with leaf detail

Sand Laurel Oak

  • Scientific name: Quercus hemisphaerica
  • Average Height: 50 feet to 100 feet
  • Notes: Prefers dry soils; nice fall color
 Sand Laurel Oak with leaf detail

Turkey Oak

  • Scientific name: Quercus laevis
  • Average Height: 30 feet to 40 feet
  • Notes: Prefers dry soils; strong fall colors; leaf shaped like turkey claw
 Turkey Oak with leaf detail

Laurel Oak

  • Scientific name: Quercus laurifolia
  • Average Height: 60 feet to 80 feet
  • Notes: Prefers dry to wet soils
 Laurel Oak with leaf detail

Overcup Oak

  • Scientific name: Quercus lyratta
  • Average Height: 60 feet to 80 feet
  • Notes: Prefers wet soils
 Overcup Oak with leaf detail

Swamp Chestnut Oak

  • Scientific name: Quercus michauxii
  • Average Height: 60 feet to 80 feet
  • Notes: Prefers wet to moist fertile soil such as a Bottomland Forest
 Swamp Chestnut Oak with leaf detail

Cherrybark Oak

  • Scientific name: Quercus pogoda
  • Average Height: 60 feet to 80 feet
  • Notes: Prefers dry soil; strong fall colors
 Cherrybark Oak with leaf detail

Willow Oak

  • Scientific name: Quercus phellos
  • Average Height: 50 feet to 100 feet
  • Notes: Prefers dry to moist soils; narrow willow-like leaves
 Willow Oak with leaf detail

Live Oak

  • Scientific name: Quercus virginiana
  • Average Height: 40 feet to 80 feet
  • Notes: Moist to dry soils; salt tolerant; handsome; massive; evergreen
 Live Oak with leaf detail

About this page

  • Keystone trees are native trees that provide the most benefits to animals and insects and can help make your property a haven for wildlife. Oak trees can host at least 150 other organisms!

Ecosystem icon with symbols for plant, bee, bird

  • The top 10 most compatible and popular keystone trees for the City of Wilmington are listed on this page.
  • This list was developed by the Wilmington Tree Commission in cooperation with the Arbor Day Foundation, the NC State Cooperative Extension.
  • Please contact your local nursery to determine if it has native plants in stock. Not all businesses are able to stock these plants, and some may only be available in certain seasons.
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