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CALIFORNIA BLACK OAK (medium)
Quercus kelloggii |
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California Black Oak is a West Coast native, growing in foothills and lower mountain regions from Central Oregon down to Baja California. It often grows in mixed conifer forests dominated by Ponderosa Pine, and is especially impressive in the Sierra Nevadas where it occasionally bursts forth in pure stands. In maturity, California Black Oak can grow to 80 feet tall with a 60-foot spread, making it a large, imposing tree. It features a thick (2-8¹ across), often-forked trunk and massive limbs clad in blackish-grey bark. Black Oak¹s deeply lobed leaves provide a vibrant display of color in each season. In spring, the oak¹s new leaves are velveteen, tinged with fuchsia and pale rose. As summer progresses, the 4 to 8-inch leaves move through bright, translucent yellow-green into a lustrous dark green on top, pale green underneath. In Autumn, Black Oak¹s foliage tends toward tawny yellow, russet, and rich, golden brown. California Black Oak has been an important human resource for centuries. Native Americans relied on this species for its strong, durable wood and as a staple food source, it¹s acorns considered the best tasting by native tribes throughout California and Oregon. California Black Oak grows well in areas with hot summers and cold winters. It prefers coarse, well-drained soils, and copes quite well with dry conditions. California Black Oak makes a great street tree or ornamental, and requires a bright, sunny location. |
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