California Black Oak
Quercus kelloggii
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
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Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus kelloggii
- USDA Symbol:
- QUKE
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 2500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
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
Reported Fauna Sightings
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, squirrels, deer, black bears, woodpeckers, jays
- Fall Color:
- yellow, orange, red
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Highly fire-adapted; thick bark protects mature trees, and resprouts vigorously from root crown after fire. Historically maintained by frequent low-intensity fires.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, rocky or sandy loam
- pH:
- 5.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Commonly found in mountainous regions with poor soil fertility.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–60 days
- Notes:
- Acorns have no deep dormancy and can germinate in fall if moisture is adequate. Cold stratification improves uniformity.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are soaked overnight in fresh water, rinsed in a 5% bleach solution for 1 minute, then placed in a plastic freezer bag with an equal amount of perlite and stored in a refrigerator at 15C. If seeds are dry, they are placed into cold running water for 48 hours prior to stratification.
Establishment: Seeds are collected fresh in the fall and stored in cold conditions until stratification. The plumule and leaves do not emerge for 1 to 2 months after sowing. There are some variations in the protocols, particularly in the pre-treatment and establishment phases.
Source: npn.rngr.net