Coast Live Oak Characteristics

Quercus agrifolia Appearance: Leathery dark green leaves; brown

bark; acorns begin as green and will darken to
Coast Live Oak trees can be found chestnut brown
mainly in the woodland, chaparral, and Size: Up to 70’ tall, acorns 1-3”
riparian areas in California. The Coast Locations: Near CFTA; Behind the middle school;
Live Oak tree is both drought-resistant between library and parking lot; behind Orchard
and fire-proof unless they are infected classrooms
with the Oak death pathogen, which Season: Year-round, flowers in spring and winter,
makes the tree four times more likely to is an evergreen tree
be susceptible to wildfire damage. The
acorns were important sources of food o Native
for the Native Americans and at least 12 different Native American groups in California considered
the live oak acorn to be a main dietary staple. The Coast Live Oak’s acorns are eaten by bears,
mule deer, and about two dozen species of birds. Insects also feed on the leaves, twigs, acorns,
bark, and wood of oak trees.

Fun Facts Sources

Coast Live Oaks can naturally fertilize nearby California Native Plant Society
plants and improve the health of surrounding EthnoHerbalist
plants through their own lives and by building the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural
natural mitochondrial fungus in the soil both itself Resources
and the nearby plants need. Sacramento Tree Foundation
Pictures: Katie Furlong ’18 and Megan
Leich