Mutant Tanoak

Notholithocarpus densiflorus

Native to:
United States
Mutant Tanoak

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fagaceae
Genus:
Notholithocarpus
Species:
Notholithocarpus densiflorus
USDA Symbol:
NODEA

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
4500 cm
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may

Host Plant for Caterpillars

California oakworm (Phryganidia californica), Caloptilia sp., Cameraria leucothorax, Cameraria marinensis, Cameraria walsinghami, Epinotia emarginana, Rectiostoma fernaldella, Telphusa sedulitella, Golden Hairstreak (Habrodais grunus)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals, deer
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts vigorously from the root crown following fire. Shrub form (var. echinoides) is particularly fire-adapted in chaparral communities.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Germination Time:
30–90 days
Notes:
Acorns are recalcitrant and should be sown fresh in fall; they do not store well and lose viability quickly.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI