Quercus lobata

• Grow your own Valley Oak, the largest of the North American native oaks
  
• Bulk tree deal for landscaping projects, windbreaks, restoration and reforestation work, and other large-scale plantings
  
• Seed-grown on California's Redwood Coast
• Transplanting and care instructions included
  
  
  

Highlights

	Moisture Low
	Cold Hardiness 5°F
	Light Full Sun / Partial Shade
	Size 60 – 130' tall / 50 – 100' spread
	Lifespan 600 yrs
	Growth Rate Fast Growing
	Drought Tolerance Medium
	Wind Resistance Medium

Tree Story

About Valley Oak

The largest of the North American oaks, Valley Oak — also known as California White Oak — is a majestic tree endemic to California, where it grows throughout the state in hot interior valleys and foothills. Spectacular statuesque individuals, some living to 600 years of age and attaining heights in excess of 130 feet, can be seen widely scattered across expanses of grassy savannas in interior California.

Valley Oak is a deciduous tree with deeply lobed leaves and thick, heavily-ridged, pewter-colored alligator hide bark, covering a very sturdy, very thick trunk, sometimes reaching upwards of 9 feet in circumference. The Valley Oak’s branches have an irregular, spreading and arching appearance. Leaves turn from matte green (pale gray-green beneath) to yellow and orange before dropping in the fall. Foliage is aromatic and covered with abundant soft fuzz, giving them a velvety feel.

Valley Oak tolerates cool wet winters and hot dry summers, but requires abundant water. It is considered a fast grower among oaks, and the tree’s acorns have historically been an important food source for both animals and Native Americans.

Size Chart

Seedling Size Chart: Medium

Due to the dynamic nature of actively growing trees, as well as the tremendous variation between species’ growth rates, we rely on the cubic volume of a seedling’s root mass to determine its “size” (Small / Medium / Large / XL). Within each size there is minor variance — the dimensions provided here represent the category minimum. If exact measurements are essential, please contact us about current stock.