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Quercus agrifolia

Accession Count: 1
Common Name: coast live oak
Family Name: Fagaceae
Botanical Name: Quercus agrifolia
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics: Quercus Agrifolia, more commonly known as the Coast Live Oak is an evergreen tree that is 25-82 feet tall and has a “broad dense crown and widely spreading branches” (2). It has a rounded or
umbrella shape with evergreen foliage and a growth rate of twenty-four inches
per year and is expected to live up to one hundred and fifty or longer. It’s
leaves have a dark green glossy color. This tree also has flowers that bloom in
the spring and they have male and female parts on the same tree. Along with
flowers, the Coast Live Oak also has acorns that appear in the fall or winter
and are large and brown. This tree provides a moderate amount of shade due to
the density of the leaf and like to live in moist to dry soil. (3)
Compound: Que agr
Geographic Origin: North American West Coast
Ecozone Origin: Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History: Quercus agrifolia grows mostly west of the central valleys and can extend as far north as Mendocino County in California and as far south as Baja California in Mexico. It is one
of the only native California oaks that enjoy living and prospering in the
coastal environment but it is not common to find it too close to the coastal
shores. They are mostly found on well drained soils of coastal plains and hills
or in rocky hillsides that are capable of trapping moisture and holding on to
it. The Coast Live Oak is normally found within one hundred kilometers of the
Pacific Ocean at elevations less than 700 meters but in southern California
they can occur at elevations up to fifteen hundred meters in altitude They are
easy to grow with the right amount of water put in, about one time per week for
the first year then once per month following that until it grows to ten feet
tall. Oaks amend the soil they are planted in with their own leaves and grow their
own mitochondrial fungus in the soil that is needed for them to prosper. (1) It
is best to prune during July and August when the tree is not growing and
diseases are less likely to attack the open wounds as they are very susceptible
to pests and diseases.
Cultivation Notes: The acorns that the Coast
Live Oak produces served as a staple food for Native Americans throughout time. Its uses also date back to early European settlers finding that its bark was great for use in making charcoal and for use
in many various industries such as baking and preparing mortar. (2) Not only
does this tree have a practical use, the Coast Live oak is important to the
aesthetic of the land, while also providing shade to the things that walk below
it, whether it be humans or animals. Many animals also utilize what this tree
has to offer, Butterflies use it as a host plant and many eat the acorns that
it provides as nutrients. (3)
Ethnobotany:
Height: 20 - 50 feet
Width: 20 - 50 feet
Growth Rate: Slow Growing
Grow Season:
Flower Season: Spring
Color: Cream
Function: Shade
Spread: Non-spreading
Allergen: Non-allergenic
Invasive: Benign
Toxicity: Benign
Hardy: Hardy
Water Use: Moderate Water Use
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Quercus agrifolia