Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia) Login         


        Description
  • CA Bloom Feb - Mar
  • Height to 40 feet.
  • This beautiful tree has a thick trunk and heavy arching branches.
  • Trunks are silver grey in color.
  • These trees live near the coast, from Mendocino county to Baja California.
  • CA native
  • AKA California Live Oak
  • Beech Family (Fagaceae)



When unrestricted, Live Oaks grow wide and tall, with a thick canopy of evergreen, leathery leaves.



Leaves often curl under and have spiny edges. Acorns grow at the end of twigs.



Male flowers are pale green. Female flowers are hard to find, inconspicuous at the base of new leaves.

   Photo Gallery (50 ) click any picture to enlarge
    

Leaves are evergreen and leathery, lasting several seasons. The upper surface is shiny, with sunken veins, and often bears small spines along the edge ...

Coast Live Oak leaves often curl under, though trees under little stress may have flatter leaves. Look for the “hairy armpits” where the lateral v ...

Male flowers grow separately from female flowers. In early spring, they appear in drooping clusters called catkins that descend from near the twi ...

Female flowers are much less conspicuous – tiny, reddish green, and growing at the base of new spring leaves. There are no petals; instead, the flo ...

The leafy bracts at the flower’s base harden as the acorn matures, forming thin, flat woody scales that overlap like shingles. Sugars made by the ...

Live Oak bark is silver gray and quite reflective. It looks like elephant skin to me. This old tree bears the marks of major events in its lifet ...