California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii) is a West Coast native, growing in foothills and lower mountain regions from Central Oregon down to Baja California. It often grows in mixed conifer forests dominated by Ponderosa Pine, and is especially impressive in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, where it occasionally bursts forth in pure stands.

California Black Oak can grow to 80 feet tall with a 60-foot spread, making it a large, imposing tree. It features a thick (2 to 8 feet across), often-forked trunk and massive limbs clad in blackish-grey bark. Black Oak’s deeply lobed leaves provide a vibrant display of color in each season. In spring, the oak’s new leaves are velveteen, tinged with fuchsia and pale rose. As summer progresses, the 4 to 8-inch leaves move through bright, translucent yellow-green into a lustrous dark green on top, pale green underneath. In Autumn, Black Oak’s foliage tends toward tawny yellow, russet, and rich, golden brown.

California Black Oak has been an important human resource for centuries. Native Americans relied on this species for its strong, durable wood and as a staple food source, its acorns considered the best-tasting by native tribes throughout California and Oregon. It grows well in areas with hot summers and cold winters, coping well with dry conditions, and prefers coarse, well-drained soils. California Black Oak makes a great street tree or ornamental, and requires a bright, sunny location.