Friends of Live Oaks (FOLO)
The Friends of Live Oaks is a citizen advocacy group formed to plant, protect, preserve, and promote live oak trees in Virginia Beach.
We are giving away live oaks in containers at no charge to Virginia Beach home and business owners to plant on their property as well as neighborhood common areas and city property such as schools and parks.
We are giving away live oaks in containers at no charge to Virginia Beach home and business owners to plant on their property as well as neighborhood common areas and city property such as schools and parks.
For more information about caring for live oaks or to request a free live oak, select one of the links on the left of this page.
Live oaks are designated as the official tree of the City of Virginia Beach, and with good reason. Native to the area, live oaks were here long before European settlers. The tree is one of the most distinctive and recognizable plants in the city and immediately brings to mind our coastal areas and maritime ecosystem. They resist salt spray and storm surges, having survived Hurricane Katrina in areas where everything else was reduced to rubble. They control flooding and storm water runoff, and shelter and nourish local wildlife. They are amazingly drought-tolerant and disease-resistant.
Live oaks boast many assets for homeowners. They increase property value and quality of life. They provide incredible shade, reducing air conditioning costs. An evergreen, their dense foliage provides privacy and beautifies the garden all year round.