Quercus fusiformis (Texas Live Oak)

Recorded by Colette Copeland, at Lake Granbury, Texas, USA, November 2025. Brisk fall morning. Zoom recorder placed at the base of the tree to capture ambient sounds. Bird songs include Red Bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe and Yellow Rumped Warbler. A cat walks around the base of the tree. Slight breeze captures the movement of the tree leaves. Distant hums of traffic and airplane. Unedited, unaltered track.

Images showing details of the tree including the leaves, acorns and bark. Images: Colette Copeland

Quercus fusiformis (Texas Live Oak) also known as escarpment or plateau live oak is native to central Texas, parts of Oklahoma and northeastern Mexico. This majestic tree can grow up to 82 feet and is considered an evergreen/semi-evergreen. The canopy can spread out horizontally for long distances, sometimes over 100 feet. The trunk is short and stout with dark brown, roughly textured bark. They flower in mid-late spring and produce acorns in the autumn that feed wildlife in winter. Their leaves are 2-4 inches long and .5-2 inches wide. Their color is glossy dark green on top and dull grayish green on the underside.

This celebrated tree in Texas history symbolizes strength, resilience and endurance due to its ability to adapt to extreme weather conditions including drought, freeze and wind. I bought my house after seeing these trees in the backyard which provide shade, shelter and nutrients to the land’s inhabitants in my North Texas lake community. It is said that Indigenous cultures held council meetings under the branches of the trees. The area was originally inhabited by the Comanche people. I acknowledge and honor their enduring relationship with this land.

Colette Copeland online