Valley Oak Quercus lobata

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Quercus

  Species:

  lobata

  Family:

  Fagaceae

  Uses (Ethnobotany):

  Native Americans used acorns as a food staple.

  Life Cycle:

  Woody

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  California

  Distribution:

  California

  Fire Risk Rating:

  low flammability

  Wildlife Value:

  Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Mammals and birds eat the acorns.

  Play Value:

  Wildlife Food Source

  Edibility:

  Acorns are edible if tannins are leached or boiled out.

  Dimensions:

  Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.

  Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Tree

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Deciduous

  Habit/Form:

  Broad

  Erect

  Rounded

  Spreading

  Weeping

  Growth Rate:

  Medium

  Maintenance:

  Medium

  Texture:

  Medium

• Cultural Conditions:

  Light:

  Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

  Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

  Soil Texture:

  High Organic Matter

  Loam (Silt)

  Soil pH:

  Acid (<6.0)

  Neutral (6.0-8.0)

  Soil Drainage:

  Good Drainage

  Moist

  Occasionally Dry

  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

  7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

• Fruit:

  Display/Harvest Time:

  Fall

  Fruit Type:

  Nut

  Fruit Length:

  1-3 inches

  Fruit Width:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Description:

  The acorn cups are composed of thick, tubercled scales. The elongated nuts are 1-2 inches long, pointed and mature in one year Aug.- Oct.

• Flowers:

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Catkin

  Insignificant

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Flower Size:

  < 1 inch

  Flower Description:

  Monoecious male and female flowers on the same tree. Blooms March to April.

• Leaves:

  Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

  Deciduous

  Leaf Color:

  Green

  Leaf Feel:

  Soft

  Leaf Value To Gardener:

  Fragrant

  Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Gold/Yellow

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Alternate

  Leaf Shape:

  Elliptical

  Obovate

  Leaf Margin:

  Lobed

  Hairs Present:

  Yes

  Leaf Length:

  3-6 inches

  Leaf Width:

  1-3 inches

  Leaf Description:

  2-4 inch long and 1-2 inches wide leaves with 6-10 deep lobes are green with pale undersides. The undersides have fuzzy hairs. The base is wedge-shaped, rounded-gradually tapered, or truncate. The tip is obtuse to rounded. The leaves are aromatic when crushed.

• Bark:

  Bark Color:

  Dark Gray

  Surface/Attachment:

  Fissured

  Furrowed

  Scaly

  Bark Plate Shape:

  Irregular

  Rectangle

  Bark Description:

  The mature bark is gray, scaly, and often vertically fissured in a checker-like pattern.

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Gold/Yellow

  Gray/Silver

  Red/Burgundy

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Bud Scales:

  No scales, covered in hair

  Stem Surface:

  Hairy (pubescent)

  Stem Description:

  The twigs are yellowish-grey, sometimes reddish, slightly tomentose. Buds are pale brown, ovoid, 1-2 inches long, pointed, densely pubescent.

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Recreational Play Area

  Riparian

  Landscape Theme:

  Butterfly Garden

  Nighttime Garden

  Pollinator Garden

  Design Feature:

  Shade Tree

  Attracts:

  Butterflies

  Moths

  Pollinators

  Small Mammals

  Songbirds

  Resistance To Challenges:

  Fire

  Problems:

  Messy

  Problem for Horses

• Poisonous to Humans:

  Poison Severity:

  Low

  Poison Symptoms:

  Abdominal pain, constipation then diarrhea (occasionally bloody), depression, frequent urination, discolored urine, jaundice; acorns can obstruct the digestive tract

  Poison Toxic Principle:

  Gallotannins, quercitrin, and quercitin.

  Causes Contact Dermatitis:

  No

  Poison Part:

  Fruits

  Leaves