Botanical Name: Quercus lobata
Common Name: Valley Oak, California White Oak
Type of Plant: dicot: tree
Character deciduous
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape an erect, mostly single-trunked tree, becoming a broad-spreading, stately plant with massive branches; bark is thick, ashy-gray, checkered on older trees
Height 30-60' (80')
Spread 3/4-equal
Growth Rate rapid
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full sun preferred; tolerates partial sun
Soil prefers a rich, deep loam; tolerates most soils
Hardiness hardy (zones 1-3, 6-16, 18-21); likes summer heat
 
Morphology:
Leaves pinnate, alternate, oblong-obovate; 2-4" long, deeply notched into 7-11 lobes rounded at their tips; dark green above, paler below
Flowers unisexual, staminate flowers; in slender terminal catkins; pistillate flowers are solitary, inconspicuous, axillary
Fruit a nut (acorn); conical, with the cup enclosing 1/3 of nut
 
Propagation:
seed (no stratification required)
 
Usage:
a large accent or specimen tree valued for its picturesque branching form; a large shade tree, good for rustic, informal landscape
 
Landscape Care:
Watering regular is preferred; drought-tolerant after established
Fertilizing little required (too much encourages root rot)
Pruning head high and develop scaffold framework on young plant
Pests/Diseases oak moth; Armillaria root rot
Special Conditions/Other
 
Origin: Central California
Family: Fagaceae

Notes:
 
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