Notholithocarpus densiflorus

A stunning evergreen tree native to California and Southern Oregon. Slow-growing to 75' with beautiful, leathery, toothed leaves which are a deep, dark-green on the top and white beneath, interesting catkins are produced from April-August becoming the wonderful acorns (which take two years to ripen) that were leached and ground into flour by the Native Americans. S/M-D-GDr

Evergreen tree to 150', though usually smaller in garden settings (40-60'), with a moderate growth rate and a stately, solid appearance. Found commonly throughout California as a shrub or small tree in mixed evergreen forests or in association with redwoods or Douglas firs, the tanbark oak is an exceptional native tree that deserves a much more prominent place in California gardens. Mature trees possess furrowed bark on a short gray trunk and distinctive, dark olive-green leaves. The new foliage opens a pale, almost white, lime-green and adds a stunning contrast to the previous year's thick leathery leaves that are glabrous above and rusty tomentose beneath. A good street or lawn tree, its lower branches sometimes touch the ground and the seasonal leaf litter creates a natural mulch at the tree's dripline. Tolerant of shade and needing little water once established, the tan oak does require protection from hot sun in Southern California. An extract from the bark was at one time used to tan cattle hides, hence the common name. Hardy to 0F. Coast ranges, from southern Oregon to Santa Barbara County, California.

This handsome tree is one of the West's most magnificent native broadleaf evergreens. It grows upright, assuming a strongly pyramidal habit, with oak-like leaves that may have tan colored fuzz on their undersides. When mature it produces acorns with interesting frilly burrs in great quantities. Found in the Siskyou/Klamath region of Oregon and California, it will adapt to about anywhere that has a winter rainfall maximum and not too extreme temperatures. It grows splendidly in the Seattle area and some large examples can be found in Seattle and Bremerton. It was known until recently as Lithocarpus densiflorus.