Gambel Oak
Quercus gambelii
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus gambelii
- USDA Symbol:
- QUGA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 900 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
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
Hummingbirds: Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus), Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope) Butterflies:Colorado hairstreak (Hypaurotis crysalus), Tharsalea arota
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, deer, elk, wild turkey
- Fall Color:
- yellow, orange, red
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the root crown following fire. Forms extensive clonal thickets through root sprouting, which is stimulated by fire disturbance.
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
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Acorns should be planted fresh in fall or cold stratified. They lose viability quickly if allowed to dry out.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
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