Coast live oak

Quercus agrifolia

Description

The Coast live oak is one of the most distinctive and widely recognized trees native to many parts of the Inland Empire. Over time it can reach specimen sizes, 25-45 ft. tall and 30-40 ft. wide, and function as the cornerstone of residential and commercial landscapes. It is widely valued for its rich green foliage, bold branching character and value for wildlife.

Young Coast live oak trees have proven to be highly adaptable to ornamental landscapes and will grow relatively quick when planted in well-drained soils with low to moderate amounts of supplemental water. This tree combines well with many California native species described in the Coast Live Oak Palette and needs ample space to mature when planted in residential gardens.

Plant Type: Native, Tree
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Low-branching, Dense
Growth Rate: Moderate, Long-lived
Foliage Color: Dark green
Flower Color: Insignificant
Flower Season: Spring
Soil Adaptations: Deep soil, Clay, Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Heat, Drought, Aridity, All day sun
Function: Attracts butterflies, Wildlife value, Specimen, Shade Tree, Screening, Restoration, Parks and open space
Height: 25 ft. – 45 ft.
Width: 30 ft. – 40 ft.

Watering Schedule: Very Low

For most situations, we recommend watering deeply less than once per month after establishment.

Learn how to apply this watering schedule to your landscape on our How to water waterwise and California native plants page.

Important Notes

These are general guidelines. Always observe and adjust as necessary for your landscape.
If it rains over 1” you will likely not need to water for at least a month. Before watering again, check the soil. It should be significantly dry at least 4” below the soil surface before watering.
If you have a “smart timer” or weather sensitive irrigation controller, it is best not to use the automatic weather adjusting features for plants in this category. While very useful for watering higher water demanding plants, those in this category have natural drought adaptations which mean they do not need to be watered more in warm weather. Using the weather adjusting features will result in either overwatering in summer or underwatering in fall and spring.

It is important to only prune Coast Live Oak during the warm, dry season (July – September) to avoid disease issues. Healthy trees generally do not need significant or hard pruning. Prune young trees to set a good branch structure to avoid the need for much pruning once the tree is older. Remove accumulated small dead branches every number of years once the tree is mature (3). Any significant pruning which will expose previously shaded areas to sun should be done at the very end of the pruning season (September), because bark will be at risk of long term damage from sun burn if exposed mid-summer (S). References