laurel oak (growing, tree, north, south)

[Rtom45]

Does laurel oak sound like something I would find growing wild in coastal NC? My wife and I are new to the area, and the back of our property is wooded (loblolly pine I think). Underneath and along the edges of the wooded area is a brushy tree and the closest match I can find is laurel oak. What else might it be?

[ChessieMom]

Originally Posted by Rtom45

Does laurel oak sound like something I would find growing wild in coastal NC? My wife and I are new to the area, and the back of our property is wooded (loblolly pine I think). Underneath and along the edges of the wooded area is a brushy tree and the closest match I can find is laurel oak. What else might it be?

There is no way anyone could really provide much information for you without a picture.

[southernnaturelover]

Yes, you're within the native range of it. They grow fast, but they're not a very durable tree, and they are terribly weedy. Most big ones you see are hollowed out from rot.

Water oak (Q.nigra) is also very similar to Laurel Oak (Q.laurifolia) and it shares the same bad traits. Willow Oak (Q.phellos) also looks somewhat similar, but they are usually better formed and have more slender leaves.

[georgeinbandonoregon]

again, without a picture it's hard to really say for sure what you might have. that said, believe the southern live oak (quercus virginiana) can also be a bushy looking tree with rather narrow leaves and North Carolina is definitely within it's natural range as well and FWIW many people consider it a very high quality tree indeed.