Quercus chrysolepis

Plant Family

Fagaceae

Plant Botanical Name

Quercus chrysolepis

Photo by: MICHAEL CHARTERS, WWW.CALFLORA.NET

Plant Common Name

Canyon Live Oak, Golden-cup Oak, Maul Oak

General Description

The rounded but mildly spreading canopy of the canyon oak has handsome evergreen, dense, holly-like foliage. It naturally grows from southern Oregon to Arizona and Baja California in western North America. Its bark is smooth and white when young but becomes reddish gray and white, corky and furrowed with age. Variable in form, it can be a large tree or dense large shrub.

The leathery oval green leaves may or may not have small spines, resembling holly foliage. They are evergreen and have light blue-gray undersides. As the new leaves open with silver or gold hairs, the male flowers appear. These greenish pendent catkins spread copious amount of pollen and are directly followed by the female flowers, which are tiny, red and found at the base of the young leaves. The large fruits (acorns) are sharply pointed and oblong that have golden fuzzy caps. They take two years to fully mature and drop, leaving the caps attached to the twigs.

Plant canyon oak in average, deep, well-drained soil that is acidic to lightly alkaline. Widely adaptable to dry to moist soils and textures, it is very versatile. It is often mistaken as being a California live oak as they are both evergreen; many regard canyon oak to be more beautiful as a shade or specimen tree. Sadly, this species is susceptible to the sudden oak death, so keep an eye out for symptoms like bleeding cankers on the trunk and branch dieback.

Characteristics

• AHS Heat Zone

  9 - 7

• USDA Hardiness Zone

  6 - 9

• Sunset Zone

  3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

• Plant Type

  Tree

• Sun Exposure

  Full Sun, Partial Sun

• Height

  20'-60' / 6.1m - 18.3m

• Width

  20'-55' / 6.1m - 16.8m

• Bloom Time

  Spring

• Native To

  Western United States, Northwestern United States, Southwestern United States, California, Mexico

Growing Conditions

• Soil pH

  Neutral, Alkaline

• Soil Drainage

  Well Drained

• Soil type

  Loam, Sand

• Tolerances

  Drought

• Growth Rate

  Slow

• Water Requirements

  Drought Tolerant, Average Water

• Habit

  Oval/Rounded

• Seasonal Interest

  Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

• Flower Interest

  Insignificant

• Flower Color

  Red, Yellow Green

• Fruit Color

  Tan, Brown

• Foliage Color (Spring)

  Green, Blue Green, Silver

• Foliage Color (Summer)

  Green, Blue Green

• Foliage Color (Fall)

  Green, Blue Green

• Foliage Color (Winter)

  Green, Blue Green, Gray Green

• Bark Color

  White, Gray

• Fragrant Flowers

  No

• Fragrant Fruit

  No

• Fragrant Foliage

  No

• Bark or Stem Fragrant

  No

• Repeat Bloomer

  No

• Showy Fruit

  Yes

• Edible Fruit

  No

• Showy Foliage

  Yes

• Foliage Texture

  Medium

• Foliage Sheen

  Glossy

• Evergreen

  Yes

• Showy Bark

  Yes

Special Characteristics

• Bark Texture

  Corky

• Usage

  Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees

• Sharp or Has Thorns

  No

• Invasive

  No

• Attracts

  Birds

• Self-Sowing

  Yes