Valley Oak

Quercus lobata — also known as California White Oak — is a majestic tree endemic to California, where it grows throughout the state in hot interior valleys and foothills. Spectacular statuesque individuals, some living to 600 years of age and attaining heights in excess of 130 feet, can be seen widely scattered across expanses of grassy savannas in interior California.

The largest of the North American oaks, Valley Oak is a deciduous tree with deeply lobed leaves and thick, heavily-ridged, pewter-colored alligator hide bark, covering a very sturdy, very thick trunk, sometimes reaching upwards of 9 feet in circumference. The Valley Oak’s branches have an irregular, spreading and arching appearance. Leaves turn from matte green (pale gray-green beneath) to yellow and orange before dropping in the fall. Foliage is aromatic and covered with abundant soft fuzz, giving them a velvety feel.

Valley Oak tolerates cool wet winters and hot dry summers, but requires abundant water. It is considered a fast grower among oaks, and the tree’s acorns have historically been an important food source for both animals and Native Americans.