ŠJ.S.
Peterson. USDA NRCS NPDC. UC Davis
Arboretum, Davis, CA. February 4, 2002. Usage Guidelines.
Species
(common name, Latin name)
Canyon
live oak, Quercus chrysolepis
Range
Climate,
elevation
In the northern portion of
the range of canyon live oak, the mean temperature in summer ranges from 20° to
23° C (68° to 74° F) and in winter, from 3° to 5° C (37° to 41° F).1 The frost-free period varies from 160
to 230 days throughout the range.2 Canyon live oak grows at elevations of 1,600
to 5,000 ft in southwestern
Local
occurrence
Canyon
live oak occurs in the Interior side of the
Habitat
preferences
Canyon live oak is often the
dominant tree on steep canyon walls. In areas of moderate to high
precipitation, it is found on southerly aspects, and in the drier parts of its
range, on northerly aspects.1
Plant
strategy type/successional stage
In the northern portion of
its range, canyon live oak is less tolerant of shade than its associates in the
mixed evergreen forests-tanoak, giant chinkapin, and Douglas-fir-and is usually
more tolerant than Pacific madrone. Canyon live oak occurs as an early
successional shrub or tree on good sites but is soon outgrown by its associates
and eliminated from a stand. On drier, more open sites, it persists in the
climax forest as a subordinate tree and shrub.4,5,6
Only on very rocky, steep canyon walls does it occur as a dominant in the
climax forest.1
Associated
species
In southern
May
be collected as
Seed7
Collection
restrictions or guidelines
Canyon live oak trees begin
to produce flowers at the age of 15 to 20 years. It is monoecious; both male
and female flowers are borne on the same tree throughout the crown. Flowering and pollination occur from May to
June, usually later than associated conifers.1
Seeds are collected between September 1st and December 15th. Mature acorns are brown. Collect when acorn base turns browns and is
easily removed from the cup.7
Seed
germination
Seedlings show little seedbed
preference, but they do best under an overstory or on the shaded overstory
fringe. The best seedbed is moist soil covered with leaf litter. Few uncovered
acorns germinate. Germination is hypogeal, and a short, cold stratification
pretreatment helps to break dormancy.
Seed
life
Acorns are destroyed by the filbert weevil (Curculio uniformis) and the filbertworm (Melissopus latiferreanus).8
Recommended
seed storage conditions
Refrigerator7
Propagation
recommendations
Soak clean acorns overnight in fresh water. Remove any floaters. Drain and rinse in a 5% bleach solution for 1 minute. Rinse. Place acorns in a plastic freezer bag with an equal amount of dry perlite. Keep in refrigerator at 15C. Check for germination after 1 month. Remove and sow acorns with 1/4 inch or longer radicles. Check weekly until all acorns germinate.7
Soil
or medium requirements
1 acorn is sown sideways and
pressed into media 0.5 times the diameter of seed to depth.
Containers used are 2"x10" tubes (Deepot 40) containing standard
potting mix of peat moss, fir bark, perlite, and sand.7
Installation
form
Container (plug)7
Recommended
planting density
Minimum
planting density per acre it 300, and the maximum planting density per acre is 800.9
Care
requirements after installed
Moisture
use is medium.9
Normal
rate of growth or spread; lifespan
Growth is slow but constant, and this tree may live for 300 years.1
Sources
cited
[1]http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/quercus/chrysolepis.htm
2Barbour,
Michael G., and Jack Major, eds. 1977. Terrestrial vegetation of
3Myatt,
Rodney G. 1975. Geographical and ecological variation in Quercus
chrysolepis. Thesis (Ph.D.),
4Laidlaw-Holmes,
Joanne M. 1981. Forest habitat types on metasedimentary soil of the
5Mize,
Carl W. 1973. Vegetation types of lower elevation forests in the Klamath
Region,
6Simpson,
Lloyd G. 1980. Forest types on ultramafic parent materials of the southern
7Young,
Betty. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of container Quercus
chrysolepis Liebm. plants (Deepot 40); Golden Gate National Parks,
8Verner,
Jared, and Allan S. Boss, tech. coords. 1980.
9http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=QUCH2
Data
compiled by Scott Havill on 5/6/2006