Coast live oak
Quercus agrifolia 路 Fagaceae 路 also California live oak
The classic oak of coastal California: a broad, dense evergreen with a short gnarled trunk, dark furrowed bark, small holly-like spiny leaves and slender acorns that ripen in one season. Old trees spread wider than tall and live for centuries, sheltering more than 250 wildlife species. In gardens it is a superb shade tree for big lots once you accept that it must not be watered in summer; irrigating under the canopy invites root rot and sudden oak death.
Where it stands
Native
- 馃嚭馃嚫 CA, United States 路 Endemic to coastal and Coast Range California from Mendocino County south (and into Baja California).source
Care
Water weekly in the first year, then monthly until about 10 ft tall, then at most once a month in summer and never at the trunk. Do not fertilize and leave the leaf litter as mulch. Prune in July or August, avoid removing large limbs and do not change the grade or add soil over the roots. Oak moth caterpillars defoliate periodically and trees recover; its spring pollen is a strong allergen.
Benefits
Good for