Charleston is generally known as the quintessential Southern city.
Part of its unmistakable charm comes from two icons of nature: the majestic live oak tree, and the Spanish moss that elegantly drapes from its branches.
Both are visible all around the Lowcountry. You could say they go together like iced tea and warm weather.
Southern Live Oak Trees - Gentle Giants
One look at their lush green canopies and massive arching branches, and you know you’re in the presence of greatness.
Officially known by their Latin name, Quercus virginiana, live oak trees are symbols of the American South. They grow in the low-lying coastal plain in states from Virginia down to the Florida Keys, and west all the way to the southeastern part of Texas. They thrive in soil that’s salty and sandy… two things we have in abundance here in the Lowcountry.
They’re called “live” oaks because they’re evergreen, unlike most oaks which are deciduous and lose their leaves in winter.
Their size is breathtaking. The crown or top of the tree can reach to 50 feet in height. Their width is even more impressive. Thanks to the wide arms of those branches, it can reach a diameter of 150 feet. A single tree can grow to be the size of half a football field.
Live oak root systems are huge as well, extending far out in all directions. This sturdy web of underground support helps anchor the tree and allows it to stand strong through high winds and hurricanes. Interestingly, even after one tree dies, its root system continues to help support and protect its fellow trees nearby.
Live oaks sure LIVE a long time…
Although they do eventually die, what’s most impressive is how long live oak trees live. Experts estimate the oldest specimens to be between 500 and a thousand years old.
So it’s possible that some southern live oak trees are FOUR TIMES OLDER than the United States of America!
They grow fast, especially during their first 70 years. Historically, the wood of live oak trees was prized for shipbuilding, due to its being so durable and dense. One classic example is the Navy’s U.S.S. Constitution, whose hull was made of live oak. During the War of 1812, it was able to withstand an intense barrage of cannon fire, earning it the nickname, “Old Ironsides.”
Spanish Moss – (which is neither Spanish, nor moss)
Spanish moss is a perennial whose Latin name is Tillandsia usneoides. It’s part of the bromeliad family of plants, which also includes pineapples.
It’s also classified as an epiphyte - a plant that gets its water and nutrition right from the air, without having to be planted in the soil. It thrives in areas with high humidity, like the low-lying coastal plains, swamps and marshes of the South. Sounds like the Lowcountry to me.
Spanish moss forms a matrix of chain-like branching stems that can hang down 20 feet in length. They’re covered in small grayish-silver scales which catch the moisture and nutrition from the surrounding air. Spanish moss is actually a flowering plant that blooms in summer, although the flowers are super small, pale in color and easily missed. Spanish moss lives mainly in two kinds of trees - bald cypress, and most famously and lushly in southern live oaks.
Unusual uses in history
We tend to think of Spanish moss as being decorative and romantic, lending mood and ambiance. But it’s had a bunch of uses over the last couple centuries - so much so, that there were more than 70 Spanish moss ginning factories in Louisiana and Florida alone.
Here are some of the many ways Spanish moss was put to good use:
First aid bandages;
Medication for rheumatism;
Insulation for buildings;
Packing material;
Stuffing for household items like mattresses;
Filling for the upholstered seats in commercial trains, airplanes, buses, ships and yachts.
Two great places to see them…
Live oak trees covered in Spanish moss can be found all across the Charleston area. But two places are especially worth noting.
If you’re staying in one of our IOP rentals, you’re quite close to one of the best spots to see them. Just head over the Connector to Mount Pleasant’s Boone Hall Plantation. It’s home to the world famous oak allée, the grand entrance road lined with massive live oak trees festooned with Spanish moss. It’s been photographed and filmed countless times, featured in movies and TV productions like The Notebook and North and South.
The other option is, of course, the famous and very beloved Angel Oak on Johns Island. It’s a natural treasure and one of the most extraordinary living things I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to describe – you truly have to experience it yourself. Read more about it in this blog.
So next time you’re here in Charleston, check out the live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. Thankfully, they’re hard to miss around these parts.
All best,
Lowcountry Lisa
your Isle of Palms vacation blogger