Which native forest looks greener in the winter?

[B.I.0.N.I.C.]

Originally Posted by Sir Goosenseresworthie

probably not the only determining factor but temperature is definitely a big factor:

Norfolk, VA record low: -3°F

Macon, GA record low: -6°F

though its range in Texas is rather bizarre... northern reaches, Abilene, TX record low: -9°F. i like to think its a different subspecies that is more cold tolerate being grouped with the eastern live oaks.

It is; the live oaks in much of inland Texas are of a subspecies known as the Texas Live Oak; they are hardier and more drought tolerant than the typical Southern live oaks:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercu...niana#Taxonomy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_fusiformis

In Texas, the typical eastern Southern Live Oaks occur only in the coastal areas of the state, ranging inland past Houston, and extending south to around Corpus Christi. Starting a bit west from Houston, you start encountering hybrids of both Southern and Texas Live Oaks, then finally, well inland in Central Texas, you see only Texas Live Oak.

One way to tell the trees apart is their growth style; Texas Live Oaks tend to be smaller, and their branching pattern is more erect (straight), where as Southern Live Oaks have wider spreads, and feature very gnarly growth. Of course, in cultivated areas, branch trimming can make it hard to distinguish between the two species:

Southern Live Oak west of Downtown Houston:

Glenwood Cemetery Houston, TX - FM Forums

Texas Live Oak in Central Texas:

http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/Que...swhole02ml.jpg

[B.I.0.N.I.C.]

One thing to note about deciduous forest areas in the South is that even though the decidious trees can be bare during winter, and thus look dead, the understory/landscape of such forests are teeming with all sorts of evergreen subtropical flora, whether in the form of vines/lianas, small evergreens trees like hollies, palmetto understories, or epiphytes, such as spanish moss. Even the deciduous trees themselves survive only in subtropical conditions, and will be killed with northern winters (Southern Hackberry, for instance). Just something to keep in mind before being so quick to write off Macon.

This drive near St. Augustine FL exemplifies what I am talking about; the palmetto is so prolific in the understory that even when the forest goes bare for the winter, the scene still looks subtropical:
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0002...7i13312!8i6656

Same sort of thing can be seen here in Palmetto Island State Park, in Southern Louisiana:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L8N5T-ySyF...canoeing+2.JPG