Buy Quercus kelloggii

The Girl Scouts learned this ?black? oak by the pointed ?witch?s finger-nail? tips on the leaves!, though it may be named for its dark bark; the leaves of this graceful 40-80' tree are pinkish in spring and bright-yellow in fall. S/M-D/GDr

This deciduous oak typically gets 40' tall x 30' wide with attractive bark & deeply-lobed, dark green leaves on widely spreading branches. One of the most handsome and desirable of the California oaks, the springtime leaves of this deciduous tree unfold with colors of pink, crimson and purple. In fall the leaves turn yellow or orange. Combines well with conifers and is beautiful with Big-Leaved Maples. Needs part shade and moderate water as a young plant, but after established, give no summer water at all Native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. The California black oak is a critical species for wildlife. Oaks may be the single most important genus used by wildlife for food and cover in California forests and rangelands. California Native Americans preferred California black oak acorns to other species for making acorn meal. Native Americans recognized the importance of fire to this oak, and purposely lit fires in oak woodlands to promote its health and ensure their food source. Found in foothills and lower mountains of california and southern oregon. Communitites located in Mixed Evergreen Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Northern Oak Woodland Between 0 and 7000 feet.

One of the West's most majestic oaks -- to 30-60' -- ranging from the foothills of southern California to western Oregon, with dark, furrowed bark and upright, vase shape . The shiny leaves look a bit like a typical red or pin oak and color to oranges and yellows in mid to late fall. Drought tolerant and hard to find in native plant nurseries, these represent our collections from Dunsmuir Canyon in the Siskiyou Mountains. USDA zone 6.