Mexican Blue Oak
Quercus oblongifolia
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
AZoaktree
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus oblongifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- QUOB
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 900 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
Antheraea oculea, Automeris zephyria, Cecropis moth (Automeris cecrops), Grote's buck moth (Hemileuca grotei), oak borer moth (Carmenta querci), Oslar's eacles (Eacles oslari), Oslar's oakworm moth (Anisota oslari), Stone's buckmoth (Hemileuca stonei)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, deer
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown following fire. Thick bark provides some fire resistance on mature trees.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Prefers arid and semi-arid regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Acorns have minimal dormancy; best sown fresh in fall. Do not let acorns dry out.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 90 days.
Source: Claude AI