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Oregon White Oak

Quercus garryana

tree View on Calscape

Care

Sun

full sun

Water

very low

Soil

well-drained; tolerates clay and serpentine

Size

30–70ft tall , 25–50ft wide

Foliage

Deciduous

Deer

Resistant

Edible

Acorns leached and ground into flour for traditional food

Keystone Plant

Supports up to 275 butterfly and moth species in Mediterranean California

Native Range

Pacific Coast from British Columbia to central California

Catkins in spring

Slow growing but long-lived; beautiful broad crown; increasingly rare in Bay Area

Care Guide

Planting

Plant your Oregon White Oak in full sun with well-drained soil - it tolerates clay and serpentine soils, but performs best in rich, loamy soil with medium drainage. Fall or winter is ideal for planting to establish roots before the growing season. Space it with room to grow; expect 30 to 70 feet tall depending on variety and conditions. This is a deciduous tree, so plan for bare branches in winter.

After Planting

Water twice monthly during the first summer to establish the tree, then reduce to nearly no supplemental water once established - this is a very low-water plant. The biggest mistake is overwatering; Oregon White Oak is drought-tolerant and actually prefers drier conditions once rooted in. Prune only as needed for structure in the first year; this is an easy-care tree that will drop its large lobed leaves each winter and leaf back out in spring.

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