Gambel Oak
Quercus gambelii
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus gambelii
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- More than 40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Bloom Months:
- mar, apr, may
- Bloom Colors:
- Yellow
- Evergreen Shrub:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Automeris randa, Automeris zephyria, Cecropis moth (Automeris cecrops), Dorithia semicirculana, Eriocraniella longifurcula, Glenwood Tolype (Tolype glenwoodii), Grote's buck moth (Hemileuca grotei), Io moth (Automeris io), Nemoria festaria, Oslar's eacles (Eacles oslari), Oslar's oakworm moth (Anisota oslari), Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), tiger moth (Malacosoma tigris), Tischeria mediostriata, Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica), Yellowstriped oakworm moth (Anisota peigleri), Ypsolopha cervella, Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Fixsenia ontario, Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), Rocky Mountain Duskywing (Erynnis telemachus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Colorado Hairstreak (Hypaurotis crysalus), Colorado Hairstreak (Hypaurotis crysalus)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- often found in mountainous regions
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Seeds are stratified naturally by planting them in the fall in a thin layer of sand on mulched field beds. Some acorns may require cold to overcome epicotyl dormancy. Cold moist storage immediately after collection may be beneficial.
Establishment: Seeds are wild collected during fall months and are kept separated according to site, elevation and source. Some seeds were collected in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado and Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. There is some variation in pre-treatment and establishment protocols.
Source: npn.rngr.net