Other Names:  Kellogg Oak

Description:

A stunning tree with an upright, rounded habit of growth and interesting, deeply lobed leaves; fast growing in ideal conditions; great as a fall accent tree; requires acidic soil, and tolerates serpentine soils, will not tolerate neutral to alkaline soils

Ornamental Features

California Black Oak has dark green deciduous foliage on a tree with an oval habit of growth. The glossy lobed leaves turn outstanding shades of yellow, orange and red in the fall. However, the fruit can be messy in the landscape and may require occasional clean-up. The furrowed dark gray bark and gray branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

California Black Oak is a deciduous tree with a shapely oval form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds and squirrels to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy

California Black Oak is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• Hedges/Screening

Planting & Growing

California Black Oak will grow to be about 60 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 50 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 6 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 300 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America.