Valley oak
Quercus lobata 路 Fagaceae 路 also Roble, California white oak
North America's largest oak and the signature tree of California's Central Valley savannas: a huge, round-crowned deciduous oak with pewter-gray checkered bark, deeply lobed leaves that turn yellow to orange before dropping, and long slender acorns. Lower limbs of old trees sweep to the ground. It grows over four feet a year with deep soil and groundwater and is a fine shade tree for large properties and parks; Portland lists it for wide planting strips.
Where it stands
Native
This tree evolved here, and local wildlife depends on it.
- 馃嚭馃嚫 CA, United States 路 Endemic to California.source
Recommended
A city, utility or extension service lists it among the trees it approves for planting here.
- 馃嚭馃嚫 Los Angeles, CA, United States 路 On the City Plants (Los Angeles) Street Tree Species Listsource
- 馃嚭馃嚫 Sacramento, CA, United States 路 On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees listsource
- 馃嚭馃嚫 San Jose, CA, United States 路 On the Our City Forest Community Nursery tree species listsource
- 馃嚭馃嚫 Portland, OR, United States 路 On Portland's approved street tree list for planting strips 8.5 ft and wider.source
Care
Plant small in full sun in deep soil and water deeply but infrequently while establishing; avoid frequent summer irrigation under the canopy of mature trees. Prune in late summer when dormant-season oak diseases are least active and avoid grade changes over the roots. Oak mistletoe, gall wasps and anthracnose are common but seldom serious.
Benefits
Good for