LIVE OAKS

Most live oaks defoliate and die within 3 to 6 months following initial appearance of symptoms.  Some live oaks take longer to die, and a few untreated trees may survive many years in various stages of decline.  Occasionally, a few live oaks in an oak wilt center may escape infection and remain unaffected by the disease.

WHITE OAKS

Many infected white oaks will exhibit some canopy loss and generally the disease will not spread to adjacent trees.  Lacey oaks, white shin oaks, and chinquapin oaks sometimes form root connections similar to live oaks, offering a pathway for the disease to spread to adjacent trees, causing higher infection and mortality rates than in other white oak species.

RED OAKS

Red oaks never survive oak wilt and often die within 4 to 6 weeks following the initial appearance of symptoms.  During summer months, diseased red oaks can often be spotted from a distance because of their bright, autumn-like coloration in contrast to the surrounding greenery. This symptom is called flagging.