The "Great Oaks Appreciation" thread...

[Silas_Sancona]

Was planning on getting this together a little later on but was inspired to speed up the time line a bit..

They're big...

They're strong ..majority anyway..

Create much welcomed shade / protective canopy, both in the yard and while out in the wild, and have a rich history world-wide...

Centered in the northern Hemisphere, the Genus Quercus contains -at least- 500 species world-wide.  Of those, North America contains the largest amount of species. 160 are native to Mexico, with 109 -at least- being endemic there.  U.S. itself contains about 90 -or so- species..  Asia, N. Africa, and Europe contain the rest, with China being another diversity hot spot for the Genus containing 100 or so species.. It is thought that the Genus first diversified and spread out from both Mexico and Asia at roughly the same time after the common ancestor(s) arose.

While some can be messy, others aren't.

Though many which originate in temperate regions can loose their leaves during the cooler months, many from the tropics and Mediterranean-climate regions don't ..or shed leaves slowly, as new foliage emerges in the spring.  Those which loose their leaves in the cooler months help to create the classical " look " of Autumn in the Eastern U.S. and mid / upper elevation areas here in the Western U.S.  While living in Kansas, nothing said "Fall" like driving around seeing all the native oaks there dressed in vibrant shades of red, Orange, Yellow ..and even Purple-ish Maroon and various earth tones..

When spring arrived, those same trees were clothed in the brightest of Apple Green when backlit by the sun as new leaves emerged. ..A very impressive sight.. While semi deciduous Oaks in lower elevations of California don't present much to look at in the fall, they too glow in the sun come spring as new foliage emerges on them.

Ecologically, Quercus could be considered one of the most important groups of trees where they occur, if not on the planet itself.. Name a group of organisms and one will discover just how many rely on Oaks for something.. That includes numerous " lower " plants in many Genus as well.. Humans of course have depended on Oaks for millennia  and ...pick a country where they occur, and you will find endless legends regarding the symbolism of these amazing trees.  In California, if one spends enough time sitting beneath massive Valley, Coast Live, Blue, and/ or Englemann Oaks, you'll notice just how many birds seem to hang out in them, compared to other types of trees like say Eucalyptus of similar size / stature..

This thread is dedicated solely to one of this planet's most amazing gifts of evolution.. Whether planted in a man-made landscape, or observed out in the wild, Post pictures of the amazing Oaks you encounter / admire..  All pictures should Include the common / Scientific name, and some tidbits regarding origin / history, etc.. No " photo dumps " w/ out descriptive additions please..



...A few, to get the Acorn rolling  ..from up at Oak Flat yesterday ..before vehicular chaos ensued, lol..

Emory Oak, Quercus emoryi.. AZ / N.W. Mexico.  A somewhat picky Oak in regards to where it likes to grow. Acorns are among some of the sweetest in the Genus containing minimal amounts of tannins  ( ..which make the Acorns of some other Quercus sp. less / much less, lol  edible / palatable after processing ).

In Arizona, ..this area of the state esp. recent wild swings in the weather patterns of recent decades have caused trees to not fruit correctly / reliably.. enough so that in conjunction w/ state forestry biologists / various conservation groups, some indigenous tribes, who often collect the acorns from local trees, like the groves up at Oak Flat,  are making major efforts to find out exactly why the trees on tribal and state forestry lands are in trouble, and what can be done to mitigate that trend..

Species itself can be a short, stubbly looking " Bonsai" growing on nothing but solid rock in full, harsh AZ sun, or tall and majestic in areas where they can put down much deeper roots..  Just one of the many amazing Oak species here in AZ.


















 

[Rivera]

These are the two I grew up with. Much of the surrounding landscape has been altered, but the oaks remain. They were once surrounded by turf grass, but in recent years they've been allowed to reclaim their understory, filling the ground beneath with their shed leaves.

Quercus agrifolia (coast live oak)

[Xerarch]

Q. fusiformis, these pics do not do justice. These are so big and beautiful, nearly perfect hemispherical crown, and so big it would occupy my entire lot if planted where the house is. I can’t stop staring at these whenever driving through the range of these big ones 

[Darold Petty]

Quercus lobata, the valley oak, showing the full expression of this species, growing in rich, alluvial soil adjacent to the Sacramento river in zip code 95970,  This one is at least 7 feet (2M) in diameter, and is estimated to be 200-300 years old.  The orchard crop in the background is English walnut.  It pains me to imagine the parklike setting, and myriad trees  that were removed from this riparian habitat for agriculture. 

The birds at the tree top are vultures,  Cathartes aura.

[Rivera]

Another Quercus lobata (valley oak). Not quite as impressive as the one in Darold's photo, but a fine tree nonetheless. It's right in the street, as you can see. This is the neighborhood of my childhood. I was lucky to grow up with such a wealth of old trees. 

Years ago I was given free access to an old stash of valley oak branch sections cut and dried for firewood, and consequently I have carved many small works out of the wood of this species. It excels in its ability to hold an edge, and its beauty is unique. Toe to toe with any exotic species. 

[amh]

Took a few shots of the big Quercus fusiformis in my front yard. The tree is 60ish feet tall and the canopy is about 70 feet wide. I haven't measured the trunk diameter, but it is over 6 feet.

The tree is about 300 years old and has lived under 6 nations.

 

[Silas_Sancona]

A few of the " Southern AZ Oaks " from Madera Canyon last September.. Hoping to get back down there next month. If not, then in September.. Exploring another area southeast of Madera Canyon rich in Madrean Oak ( and Pine ) species is in the cards sometime later this summer as well., depending on how this years Monsoon shapes up.

Being closer to Mexico, you start to see species considered more "tropical" than further north. While it's appearance can be quite variable this far north, Quercus rugosa is the only sp. of the " big" leaved Quercus sp. that reaches AZ. Further south, there are many more large-leaved species that challenge the idea of what an Oak can look like. A few look more like Ficus than an Oak.

Regardless, the habitat it ..and some of the other S. AZ species grow,  gives the observer an idea of one of the most important eco-regions in North America, the Madrean Pine/ Oak Woodlands.. This habitat is where you can find everything from plants you might encounter in the Front Range in Colorado, to some of the more exotic ...and summer flowering... Mexican Mariposa Lily species, Tigridia,  Milla ( Mexican Stars ), the northern-most species of Begonia, Peperomia, Asplenium, Philodendron ( far southern half of the M.P.O.W. region in Mexico ) etc.. 

As mentioned in the past, these areas are also where you'll find a majority of Orchid and Bromeliad species which occur south of the border. This is also a major habitat area for such exotic animals like Jaguar, Coatimundi, and some of the Parrots / other more "exotic" bird species whose ranges extend north to southern AZ and New Mexico.

In the lower, more desert-like areas down there, the grandmother to a spectacular ..and similar-looking Oak species that occupies similar habitats in California, welcomes anyone passing through ..offering up a very different look to Arizona's lower elevation landscapes.

Because so many species grow together in the Canyon, there are likely many hybrids making accurate ID's on particular species somewhat challenging.. One of my main goals on the next visit there is to try and find more " true to description" specimens of certain species..  Regardless, a very different landscape than what most people think of when Arizona is mentioned..



Mexican Blue Oak, Quercus oblongifolia.. the Grandmother to S. Cal's Englemann Oak, and possibly contributing some degree of DNA to the awe-inspiring Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii.. 











At one time, Mex Blue Oak grew across most of the lower elevations areas of AZ and Southern CA, just east of the coast.. As the climate dried out, the now separated S. Cal population of Q. oblongifolia continued to evolve into a separate species ( Q. englemanii ) ...Is the theory anyway
 

In the case of Blue Oak, it is possible that Q. englemanii  played some part in it's evolution at some point in time. That said, it does not tolerate summer irrigation / quite as much extreme heat
as both Q. oblongifolia and englemanii  can showing that it went on to continue evolving under completely different climate conditions.



Gray Oak, Quercus grisea.. Looks like Mex Blue Oak, but foliage is typically more gray green in color instead of blue / silvery blue.. unless a cross between the two.  Drought tolerant, but maybe a little less so than Mex. Blue.








Of all the S. AZ sp. observed thus far,  Quercus hypoleucoides  is the most distinct ( ..and common where it grows ) Silvery White undersides of the leaves is quite bright when illuminated by the sun. Abundance in the Canyon ( mid / upper elevation areas ) and look of the tree itself reminds me of Tan Oak or Chinquapin you'd see growing all over the Santa Cruz Mountains / mid elevations in the Sierras. Likes slightly cooler / moister conditions so maybe not a great option for the hottest / driest low elevation areas. Has done quite well where grown in the Pac. N.W.

[Darold Petty]

I have no image,  but from my childhood I fondly remember Quercus kellogii. 

[SEVA]

The genus Quercus is probably the most interesting in my opinion, and there have been quite a few that I have admired. I’ll just share this one though. From what I have been told and read, it was found in Virginia Beach and then planted in Williamsburg in the 1930s. This is Quercus x comptoniae (a hybrid between Q. virginiana and Q. lyrata).

[Pee Dee Palms]

Here is a good ol' classic Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), but this one is a bit more special than most.

This tree is several hundred years old and has a quite unique story to tell. This tree is right in front of an old Southern plantation known as Hampton Plantation (near McClellanville, South Carolina). In 1791, George Washington visited Hampton Plantation, and was told by Mrs. Horry (owner of the plantation) that it was going to be cut down because it obstructed the view. Washington wasn't too fond with this idea and told Mrs. Horry that she should let the tree live. She ended up changing her mind and chose to keep it, as Washington had suggested.

If it had not have been for George Washington, this tree wouldn't be here today, and this is why the tree is now called the "George Washington Oak". I had the opportunity to collect an acorn from this lovely tree and now have one small Quercus virginiana that is the "child" of the beautiful George Washington Oak.

Edited April 12, 2023 by General Sylvester D. Palm

[Darold Petty]

This is a great thread, please let's have additional contributions.  

[amh]

'Nother big Quercus fusiformis in the yard, but not as old as the first tree. These trees grow very slow on the Edwards Plateau unless there is a stream or river in close proximity.

I'll try to get some pictures of other nice specimens and species throughout my area.

[Silas_Sancona]

A few bigger specimens ..of many other Live Oak planted around town. No idea on exact age since planting / size planted at.





A little hard to imagine these would do well in the low desert and yes, you'll find examples of under watered / badly sited trees ..but not these..  Some other nice examples around showing how well these can do here.  Barring what storms, extended drought these will face in the decades ahead, can only imagine what these / other healthy specimens could look like after another 20-40 or so years of optimal growth.

[Silas_Sancona]

On 4/15/2023 at 3:16 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

A few bigger specimens ..of many other Live Oak planted around town. No idea on exact age since planting / size planted at.





A little hard to imagine these would do well in the low desert and yes, you'll find examples of under watered / badly sited trees ..but not these..  Some other nice examples around showing how well these can do here.  Barring what storms, extended drought these will face in the decades ahead, can only imagine what these / other healthy specimens could look like after another 20-40 or so years of optimal growth.

Better / close-er up shots of the Live Oak at a near by park..  Not entirely sure if these are pure Q. virginiana  or a cross..  Thought they might be fusiformis but the Acorns are small / rounder ( ...like virginiana ) compared to what they look like on fusiformis. ( ..longer, narrower ) Nice looking trees that will only get nicer as the years pass ...if the chop n' go folks don't ruin 'em, ...to put it nicely, haha.

Side note: if i had some / access to some, tempting to tie some clumps of Ball Moss ( Tillandsia recurvata ) and/ or other very tough/ hardy Tillandsia sp. to some of the branches, esp. on the east facing sides of trees closest to the turf areas, and see if any establishes / spread around a bit..  😁

















 

[rprimbs]

We have some big oaks.  I love them.

[SEVA]

Since there have been a few Quercus virginiana shared, I’ll share a few that I find interesting. 
 

First is the Emancipation Oak in Hampton, VA. It was where the first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation took place in the South. 

 

Next is another live oak in Hampton. The Algernourne Oak is located at what is known today as Fort Monroe (previously called Fort Algernourne). It’s estimated to be nearly 500 years old and is either the largest or one of the largest live oaks in Virginia.

 

The third is a live oak in Chesapeake near the Suffolk, VA line. It was nearly cut for a highway retention pond, but fortunately still stands. It’s the 5th largest live oak in VA. 

 

The next few trees are just a few I enjoyed viewing at First Landing in Virginia Beach. They’re some of the largest in the park.

 

 

And the last one is a variegated live oak I stumbled upon in VA Beach.

[Silas_Sancona]

Various " CA. Oaks " shot ..quite some time ago, lol.

Majority of pictures taken in October ( 2011 ) at the Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space Preserve, New Almaden, CA. Last picture is from another area nearby.

















The typical " look " of areas where Coast Live Oak dominates many east facing slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains.   A side note, ...this habitat is also primo Mountain Lion territory in Santa Clara county ...and the time of day they start roaming for food.




Example of more open, Valley / Blue Oak / scattered Coast Live Oak woodland habitat, Lower Greystone Ridge, New Almaden, CA.




** Added bonus, Perfect example of how larger California Bay Laurel, Umbellularia californica  can look in habitat.

[Silas_Sancona]

 Bigger / fuller " Arizona " Live Oak, ..Maybe a decade or two older than the others i'd posted here from Desert Breeze Park nearby but still " Children " by Live Oak standards

[Silas_Sancona]

Oak Flat Emoryi   after a July-like overnight rainstorm...












































...Added bonus, the first hint of what would become a pretty decent Circumhorizontal Arc.











 

[Silas_Sancona]

Some Greats from the past..

Uvas Canyon County Park, Santa Clara Co, CA. March 2013.  Yellow flowers in shots #  1 and 5 are Ranunculus californicus.

[Meangreen94z]

Quercus grisea in Alpine, Texas

[Silas_Sancona]

Naturally sculpted Emory Oak " Bonsai " Oak Flat 10 /21











 

[Hillizard]

18 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Naturally sculpted Emory Oak " Bonsai " Oak Flat 10 /21











 

Really fine pictures Nathan, of these hardy oak survivors!👍

[Silas_Sancona]

5 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

Really fine pictures Nathan, of these hardy oak survivors!👍

They're tough trees for sure..  There are several spots on the " Table Top " areas at the flat where you have these dwarfed  " groves " of Emory Oak which grow next to...  or within short sight of much larger trees growing in deeper soil.

I'm hoping that one of these years the trees up there will have a good mast year so i can collect and get some seed passed around since, most importantly,  the groves up there ..may not be around for much longer,  and  the species is one of ..maybe a handful ( or two ).. of Quercus sps  where the Acorns contain very low levels of tannins, are sweet tasting,  and thus require minimal or no processing to consume.

The species is of such importance to numerous Native American Tribes and the overall ecology of Oak Woodland areas here and in Northern Mexico that a Collaborative between various tribes, the forest service, and some other agencies was established to address issues effecting tree health and recruitment.

https://www.internationaloaksociety.org/content/emory-oak-collaborative-tribal-restoration-initiative
 

[Hillizard]

Thanks for the ethnobotanical background on this species.😀

[Silas_Sancona]

13,000 year old Oak that may have had now extinct CA mega fauna, nibbling on it's leaves, or taking refuge among it's branches.. now threatened by land- greedy humans and the plague of un - necessary sprawl..

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/ancient-california-tree-may-be-threatened-by-proposed-riverside-county-development/ar-AA1jssQG

Even crazier? the mention in the article of proposing that that a future HOA could help manage it.. 🤣 Group of greedy folks who think they're neighborhood dictators protecting anything green that isn't a rigid, square - shaped boxwood or Lantana?   The cake of dumbest idea possible?..

Build somewhere else ..or better yet, not at all 

[T in Vista]

This giant is in California.

[Silas_Sancona]

Interesting article discussing needed action regarding conservation and habitat preservation of Oaks, ..particularly those species from Mexico and Central America.

https://phys.org/news/2024-09-mesoamerican-oak-tree-species-urgent.html

[Meangreen94z]

That is something Adam Black has been working on. He posted these pictures of Quercus tuitensis

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/MgGB82xk8a58FiJt/?

and Quercus cualensis 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/xQfizT5DDZ38gZjp/?

[Meangreen94z]

Here is a very blue Quercus grisea he posted from West Texas. I’m a big fan of the species.

[ChrisA]

Quercus germana (Mexican Royal Oak) at the San Antonio Botanical garden.  It’s native to the Sierra Madre Oriental from Tamaulipas southwards I believe all the way to Costa Rica.  It reminds me of Quercus polymorpha (common name Monterrey Oak here in Texas) but has a nice form to it in my opinion and glossy evergreen leaves.

It completely defoliated in the great freeze of 2021 and had some tip die back but regrew and looks good again. Definitely should be made more available in the trade as it is a fine tree.

 

I’ve been looking for these at local nurseries as I’ve been keen to replace a large Pecan that died from last year’s record heat and drought.  I only found one for sale, decent price for a 15 gallon pot, but looks to have been in it for 500 years…

 

Anyhow, I present Quercus germana!

 

[JeskiM]

I had a Q. germana at my previous house.  It grew crazy and I was disappointed that it was far too big to dig up and move when we left that house.  It was a bit tender to cold and I am not certain how well it got through the big cold snap/blizzard a few years ago because we were not living there by that time.

I got it back around 2011 or so.  I got it from Barton Springs Nursery.  I've never seen that species in any nurseries in the Austin metro since then.

I would get another one if I could find it .... though I don't know where I'd put it now.

-Matt

[Jonathan]

On 4/4/2023 at 3:51 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

Ecologically, Quercus could be considered one of the most important groups of trees where they occur, if not on the planet itself.. Name a group of organisms and one will discover just how many rely on Oaks for something.. That includes numerous " lower " plants in many Genus as well.. Humans of course have depended on Oaks for millennia  and ...pick a country where they occur, and you will find endless legends regarding the symbolism of these amazing trees.  In California, if one spends enough time sitting beneath massive Valley, Coast Live, Blue, and/ or Englemann Oaks, you'll notice just how many birds seem to hang out in them, compared to other types of trees like say Eucalyptus of similar size / stature.

Great thread, with some truly beautiful trees. 

However I reckon there's a few other contenders for the most important tree genus on the planet...900 Ficus species with pan tropical distribution and nutrient dense fruit would be in the running. And 85 species of nectar feeding Australian birds alone would go hungry without the 800 odd species of eucalypt they rely on for food.

Gotta stick up for the locals!

[Silas_Sancona]

6 hours ago, Jonathan said:

Great thread, with some truly beautiful trees. 

However I reckon there's a few other contenders for the most important tree genus on the planet...900 Ficus species with pan tropical distribution and nutrient dense fruit would be in the running. And 85 species of nectar feeding Australian birds alone would go hungry without the 800 odd species of eucalypt they rely on for food.

Gotta stick up for the locals!

Ficus  definitely comes close to " level of importance "  though they come up short in that most sps. are tied to the tropics ...or at least areas that don't get too cold.  

Quercus can be found from fairly close to the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, to very high latitudes / tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions across the ecological niches they filled along the way between.. 

Both serve as Keystones in their habitats however.


Eucalypts may have more species, but only occupy / evolved within  a tiny slice of the globe.. 

As far as the animals that do rely on them,  had Eucs not evolved,  diet of  Eucalypt- dependant animals likely would have evolved alongside something else.  Obviously, one could say the same about animals that depend on Oaks, Pines, or Legume-type trees for their diet as well.

Outside of Aus, the list of animals that will utilize Eucs as a food source is small, at best.. Aside from Non Native Honey Bees, and the occasional Hummingbird, rare that you see many critters utilizing Eucalyptus in CA. .or here.

Great nesting sites for Raptors, various wading and other " water " birds,  ...and Owls however.
 

[Jonathan]

5 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Ficus  definitely comes close to " level of importance "  though they come up short in that most sps. are tied to the tropics ...or at least areas that don't get too cold.  

Quercus can be found from fairly close to the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, to very high latitudes / tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions across the ecological niches they filled along the way between.. 

Both serve as Keystones in their habitats however.


Eucalypts may have more species, but only occupy / evolved within  a tiny slice of the globe.. 

As far as the animals that do rely on them,  had Eucs not evolved,  diet of  Eucalypt- dependant animals likely would have evolved alongside something else.  Obviously, one could say the same about animals that depend on Oaks, Pines, or Legume-type trees for their diet as well.

Outside of Aus, the list of animals that will utilize Eucs as a food source is small, at best.. Aside from Non Native Honey Bees, and the occasional Hummingbird, rare that you see many critters utilizing Eucalyptus in CA. .or here.

Great nesting sites for Raptors, various wading and other " water " birds,  ...and Owls however.
 

It's a fun discussion, though somewhat subjective!

In defence of figs, they are present on every continent in a huge variety of habitats. In Aus for example they range from temperate SE Victoria to monsoonal NW Western Australia; from the wet tropical rainforests of North Queensland to desert rock outcrops in the centre.

The rest of the world can thank its lucky stars that Eucalypts evolved in isolation in Australia, because otherwise there would be Euc forests from pole to pole. They are the ultimate ecosystem modifier due to their propensity to regenerate after fire...in Aus they have completely dominated the landscape from the tops of mountains here in Tasmania, to the central deserts and as rainforest emergents in wet areas that haven't burnt for a few hundred years. There are species that grow where temps drop to -12C (10F) regularly, so they have potential to adapt to cold conditions...imagine a deciduous Eucalypt...no thanks!

However, you are of course right, any plant out of place rarely has a positive ecosystem effect. Acorns from introduced Oaks in Tasmania lie on the ground and rot or get eaten by introduced rats. 

Having said all that, I love Oaks and have grown a few American species from seed, bicolor, kellogii, douglassii and lobata, just wish they grew a bit quicker!

[JeskiM]

Speaking of the California species of oaks; I've tried several here in Cen. TX without much luck.

Q. douglassii struggles to get going. Usually drops all of it's leaves by end of summer and then resprouts way back down the trunk after previous growth dies back.

Lobata, Kellogii, Chysoleps fair even worse for me.

All of them were started from acorn in very deep pots or right in the ground.

The one that grows best for me is Engelmanii. It loves the heat. Will push growth more tham once if enough water. The only issue I've had with that species is it's cold tolerance. It will due back when into low 20s and colder.

-Matt

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, JeskiM said:

Speaking of the California species of oaks; I've tried several here in Cen. TX without much luck.

Q. douglassii struggles to get going. Usually drops all of it's leaves by end of summer and then resprouts way back down the trunk after previous growth dies back.

Lobata, Kellogii, Chysoleps fair even worse for me.

All of them were started from acorn in very deep pots or right in the ground.

The one that grows best for me is Engelmanii. It loves the heat. Will push growth more tham once if enough water. The only issue I've had with that species is it's cold tolerance. It will due back when into low 20s and colder.

-Matt

Makes sense..  Q. douglasii can be a bit touchy, even outside of habitat in CA..  Q. lobata  is interesting.  Perhaps your soil is something it doesn't like??   Fairly certain i'd heard of someone growing it somewhere in the mid- Atlantic so... 🤷‍♂️🤔.

Q. kelloggii  is one of those species that won't venture too far from preferred slopes. There was a hillside in view of my window at an old house back in San Jose where every fall, you could easily pick out where the kelloggii on the hillside stopped growing, ..barely creeping above the top of the west facing side of that hill..  Could pick out trees / groups of them in the finger canyons on the east facing slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains right behind that hillside too.


Unless they were sourced from there,  you might try to obtain Acorns off Q. chrysolepis  from southeastern AZ,  rather than CA.


Considering the direct connection between Q. englemanii  and Q. oblongifolia,  not surprised it might be more tolerant of various factors there in TX.  ..It, ..and Q. oblongifolia..,  are  being utilized as a " Q. douglasii  alternative "  in areas of Cen. / N. Cal. where Q. douglasii  struggle in landscapes.



I've always been intrigued by how picky our CA Quercus  can be vs. some of the eastern sps.  Many years ago, i planted a Pin Oak in front of a house after the Italian Alder in that yard croaked and i tore it down.

Despite the fact that that Pin Oak has never been watered since i planted it ( '92 or 3 ) and moved from there ( '97 ), and is situated up on a hill in soil that is quite rocky / drains quite well,  that tree is still there, growing well  ..albeit about half the height that specimens of that species can attain back east. 

No clue if they're still around but there were other Pin Oak specimens planted around the Almaden Valley around the same time.

[JeskiM]

Does anyone know of a source for Q. tarahumara ?

If there is one I have been looking for: it's this one.

-Matt

 

[Silas_Sancona]

12 minutes ago, JeskiM said:

Does anyone know of a source for Q. tarahumara ?

If there is one I have been looking for: it's this one.

-Matt

 

I thought there was a reproducing specimen at John Fairey / Peckerwood?   Oaks of the Wild West had seedlings at one point a couple years ago as well. 

Berkley  was another garden i think has -at least- larger ( by now ) one specimen also.

[ChrisA]

On 10/3/2024 at 2:03 PM, JeskiM said:

I had a Q. germana at my previous house.  It grew crazy and I was disappointed that it was far too big to dig up and move when we left that house.  It was a bit tender to cold and I am not certain how well it got through the big cold snap/blizzard a few years ago because we were not living there by that time.

I got it back around 2011 or so.  I got it from Barton Springs Nursery.  I've never seen that species in any nurseries in the Austin metro since then.

I would get another one if I could find it .... though I don't know where I'd put it now.

-Matt

That’s cool that Barton Springs used to carry them. Too bad it seems they’ve steered more towards the regularly available plants over the last few years. You should check your old house in street view to see if it made it through 2021. This one in SATX lost every leaf,  but came back fine.

 

Here is another wonderful oak that is perfect for smaller yards/projects, a Texas native, Lacey Oak.