The Empire Live Oak from Tree Town USA is a beautifully shaped, fast growing, and pest resistant tree that is perfect for the landscape.
Necessity is frequently the mother of invention. When Tree Town USA, the country’s largest tree farm based in Texas, couldn’t get a sufficient yield of high quality Live Oak seedlings from the acorns they were receiving from their seed sources they needed to make changes. They would regularly end up with many genetically inferior trees that did not meet the quality standards of their most discriminating landscape contractors and landscape architects. Changes needed to be made to keep their customers happy with a consistent supply of high quality trees. They developed an area where they could harvest their own acorns from parent trees that exhibited the genetic traits they were looking for to produce high quality trees consistently. Their experienced team of growers selected parent trees with good branching angles, faster rates of growth, good foliage, and overall appeal from their large inventory of Live Oaks. They planted them near one another in an isolated area of their 1,200 acre tree farm near Glen Flora, Texas segregated from other Live Oaks on the farm. They began harvesting acorns produced by the selected trees to produce a large portion of their crop of seedlings. After watching the seedlings for several years, the growers determined they were getting a much higher percentage of high quality trees than any other seed source they were using. They noticed consistency between the trees, faster growth and overall higher quality resulting in many more trees meeting the quality requirements of their most discriminating customers.
Tree Town has thousands of these remarkable trees available to the trade
The good genetics, seedling quality, combined with their growing and pruning practices have produced the first crop of these high quality trees for sale in 2012 in sizes from 10 gal to 45 gal. Tree Town USA trademarked the name Empire Live Oak to identify the trees produced from these superior genetics and growing practices.
Compared to other live oaks, these trees grow quickly and have been breed to produce a lovely, upright canopy
The seedlings are produced in special seedling pots to prevent circling roots and each subsequent step up to a larger size occurs when the trees are at a young age to ensure proper root structure. Trees with root issues or other quality issues are removed at each stage of the shift up process. The trees are staked for straight trunks, good leaders and good branching. Any tree that does not meet the genetic or quality requirements along the way to a finished tree is segregated and dealt with. The end result is a crop of high quality Live Oaks that will have a similar appearance, good branching, faster growth rate, good foliage, and overall appeal when planted in the landscape.
Tree Land USA offers this tree to professionals in all sizes from 10 to 45 gallons. A 670 gallon version will be available soon.
The great lengths that Tree Town USA has gone through will insure that landscape contractors, landscape architects, business owners and home owners will have a source of consistently high quality trees for their landscapes. The trees will be offered in sizes up to 670 gal over the next few years. The company is accepting contract grows for special large landscape construction projects in the future as well as future orders for companies wanting to offer the finest Live Oaks to their customers. They have more than 70,000 trees in inventory to support the anticipated demand for this popular tree. The Empire Live Oaks will be offered through retail garden centers, wholesale landscape suppliers, landscape contractors and other retail garden outlets in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.
We lost two large, 66 ft. and 48 ft. water oaks in our back yard when a storm with 60-70 mph winds broke off the top 15 feet of one tree which then split the trunk of the 48 ft. water oak tree. Needless to say, we lost both trees – the 66 ft. tree had a stump 53 inches across and the workers cut a slab off it to make a coffee table. We need to replace these trees because the western exposure of our house is sunny year round. Randy Lemmon of Garden Line Houston radio program recommended the empire live oak, saying that they grow quickly the first five years and maintain a shape without bending branches. Could you please tell me where we will be able to find these trees? We are looking for one that is already maybe 15 to 20 ft. high. If you could provide this information I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
Jane Mackintosh
I hate to hear stories like this. I am so sorry that you lost these beautiful trees. Tree Town only sales to the trade. However, I have forwarded your story to them and asked how they might be able to help you. I will hear back from then tommorrow or Tuesday and I will let you know what they say.
Arbor Gate in Tomball TX is the closest source of the Empire Oak. Also, any Home Depot can order them for you. Please check with either of these retailers so they can order your trees now. This will ensure that they arrive in time for a fall planting. Hope this helps.
Any Independent Retail Nursery or Landscape Contractor can order from TreeTown USA. So go to a local Garden Center and ask the buyer or manager and you should be able to have your tree in a week or so.
Cody Arceneaux
Buyer and Assistant Manager
Enchanted Forest
Richmond, TX 77469
cody@myenchanted.com
I am so very happy to learn of this tree. I recently planted a red oak in my yard last year and it looked like it was doing good. It died. I am so upset about it that I feel its all my fault and that I let it down. This time I’m calling a professional. I live in the hill country nothing but rock. Although there are a lot of live oak trees in this area I would love to have an Empire Oak tree in my yard. Two trees or three would be good. Please help me. Thank you, Mrs. Martinez
I am interested in the empire oak. Please let me know what heights and prices. I am looking for 15 to 20 ft high.
Thank you for your time.
The Empire Oak tree is sold by Home Depot and many local nurseries. I don’t actually sell anything on this site. However, I am friends with a Treetown salesman and I can find the best place for you to find this tree if you let me know the city you live in. Thanks for reading and good luck with your new tree
i have been looking for this tree around lewisville tx with not luck. I need help, i want to buy a 20 gallong tree
My friends at Tree Town suggest contacting Shermin Nursery. However, 30 gallon is the smallest size they have. Good luck.
I live in mesquite texas I just bought a empire live oak from home depot but the selection is limited to only 3 the day that i was shopping i wish they have better selection
They have been very popular. If you would like, I can get my friend from Tree Town to tell me a local independent nursery that you could try.
Al Borrego says:
I just bought a empire live oak two days ago and It was a 45 gallons from home depot and I just notice how fast it is growing unbelievable, top branches 3″ already, same as other side branches.
very happy with my choice even though I paid dearly for it.
august 10th, 2013 at 12:20 pm.
I agree on both accounts. I love my Empire oak. I planted mine right before a drought. I have cared for it properly and it has thrived. Since I am involved in the business of horticulture, I understand how much it costs to produce a product. Unfortunately it costs a lot to produce a tree as big as your 45 gallon tree. I know that knowledge doesn’t make it any easier to write the check, know that you got a very high quality tree that you will enjoy for the rest of your life.
Hi. Do you have any planting instructions or fertilizer recommendations? I plan on buying some 95 gallon empire live oak this fall and would like to get the soil ready for it. I’m using landscape mix top soil for fill.
Great question! Since it’s a mature, seeding live oak you want to make sure it gets plenty of nutrients. Right now, loosen up the soil in the area you will plant with a little organic matter. I recommend two 2 cu’ bags of compost(manure, cotton burr, humate are all good) and one 3 cu’bag of landscape-mix (composted pine bark and peat moss). Mix together and place direct over the spot you are going to plant. When planting, use this mixture and your native soil to back fill. Remember to plant at least 2” high to leave room for mulch. Make up the same mixture as above and use it as the mulch around the tree.
Where can we find 8 inch caliper to ten inch caliper Empire Live Oak Trees? Or at a minimum, 100-gallon trees? We are landscape arcitects in Dallas and wold like to specify this tree for our clients.
jay,
I have recently purchase 3 of these trees, 5 gallons from home depot and am waiting till fall to plant them. I have heavy clay soil (gumbo and yellow clay) with a ph between 6-7. I have recently drilled a large area with the posthole digger on my tractor (~a 10′ diameter circle by 4′ deep) and am considering on replacing some of the soil with compost and topsoil hauled in from a local dirt pit. Do you have any advice?
There are different opinions on this but I think you would be better off hand digging your holes. Here’s why. The quickest way to kill a new tree is planting it too low in the ground. Lots of respiration occurs at the root flare and if it is planted below the soil level water will will accumulate there and actually drown the tree. Now about the organic matter. Unless you are in really sandy soil the rule of thumb is “what comes out of the hole goes back in”. If you want to amend the natural soil with a little compost do it sparingly. I believe it is better to to mulch with the finished compost and use it to make the berm around the base of the tree. The watering will release the available nutrients in the compost and the worms will begin to work it into the soil. Using natural soil will encourage the tree to root and anchor more quickly.
That is my opinion and how I plant trees at my house. However, since you have 5 gallon trees, you have a lot more flexibility. These small trees will rapidly establish themselves no matter how you plant them. If you want to use your auger made holes and your soil mix just be sure to plant them high enough to allow for them to settle up to six inches. If you do this and keep them well water for the first year or so you should be alright!
Are there any retailers in the San Antonio area?
Let me ask my friend and I will get back to you
Here are some sources in the San Antonio Area for Empire Live Oaks:
The Garden Center. 10682 Bandera Rd.
John Deere – 210.656.8100 Stephen Simpson is the mgr.
Garden 210.647.7900 Wayne Harrell is the owner
This one is actually in New Braunfels – but great guy!
Paradise Palms – Steve is the owner 830.626.3344
Do empire live oak tree grow wide enough ?? At home Depot the tag on it says 40-60 w x 40-60 h for a 10 g price $110. I am looking for a tree that’s grow more in width than length upward. Does anybody know more about this trees? Thanks..
The Empire Live Oak is designed to have a nice, upright rounded shape like a Bradford Pear. Most Live Oaks have more of a rambling growth type that you may like better. I would suggest looking for a standard live oak
I was at a Walmart in Parker County today and they had Empire Live Oaks. Are these the same high quality tree you speak of in your article. They were on the small side and did not have many leaves. I think they were 5 gallons. Thanks
There is a good chance they are. While there is nothing wrong with Wal-Mart plants, shrubs and trees, you will probably find better quality product at a local nursery. Your local nursery is a specialost that sells only plants. Because of that they often receive better stock and provide better care for the plants while they are on their lots.
On another note, 5 gallon is a great size tree to get established. While it is not going to make an immediate statement when planted, it will establish itself much quicker. As for the lack of leaves of leaves, do not use that to judge the quality of the tree. Remove the pot and look at its roots. If it has lots of small, white roots the tree will more than likely be ok. If you are still nervous about your purchase, remember that Wal-Mart offers a one year warranty on your plants as long as you keep the receipt.
Do you know what the actual growth rate is by any chance? In googling it, nothing comes up except stating it’s rapid….. is it like a Bradford pear kind of rapid? Or a Monterrey oak type rapid? Please help!
Pretty slow and steady. I would say less than a foot a year. Keep it watered regularly and that will help.
Ow. Really? Everywhere states that these new empire oaks are fast growing. That’s not much better than a regular love oak….thanks for responding Jay.
My pleasure. Do not want to argue with any marketing but I know the people that developed it. It is 100% a live oak. It will grow exactly like any other live oak. What makes it different is its growth pattern. It is very upright with a nice, rounded canopy. This is what it was selected for, not for its growth rate.
Ugh. Just so disappointing. But again thank you for letting me know. Does Tree Town sell larger than 45 gallon do you know by any chance?
They do but they are getting harder to come by. My friend Morgan McBride sells in the DFW region. He said 60 gallons and up are getting very hard to come by. Let me know if you want his contact info.
Ugh. I live in Austin-so I’m guessing the delivery charge for two would be crazy. They are beautiful tree though, I wish he were closer. Thank you again. So kind of you.
Is this tree basically a Quercus Virginina . Would this tree do well in Las Cruces NM. Sandy soil PH 7.9 I just got a small one for 24 dollars. There are a couple big ones in town.
It is Quercus Virginina. Grows just like any other live oak. Not sure of your pH, but if it supports other live oaks then this one should be fine.
There are a lot of live oaks in town , high ph doing fine , looks healthy needs very little water now thanks
I live in Tulsa Oklahoma and we have a few live oaks here that thrive. However, I am concerned about the cold tolerance of the Empire Live Oak. Can anyone help me out?
I contacted the Tree Town USA sales rep for your area. He said he sells lots of Empire Live Oaks in Tulsa. While Tulsa is about as far north as these live oaks can survive he said there are lots of people there growing the Empire Live Oak
Jay,
Can I get the Tree Town USA Rep contact information for here in Tulsa?
The man’s name is Perry Cook. I had a friend send him a note. he should contact you soon. If you don’t hear from him in a few days let me know and we will reach out to him again.
Are there any retailers in the Rio Grande Valley area? This includes McAllen, Harlingen and Brownsville. Thank you in advance.
I have 2 empire live oak trees in a a two gallon bucket and is summer can i plant them in top soil farm in Alice Texas without caring for. This time of season gets plenty of rain and i live in Weston Florida. Is this a good time or should i wait by September this year.
The best time to plant trees is always in the winter. I would wait until October through February to plant trees.