Quercus garryana

Common Names

Oregon White Oak, Garry Oak, Oregon Oak, Brewer Oak, White Oak

Summary

Garry oak, or Oregon white oak, is a native deciduous tree of the Pacific Northwest extending from British Columbia to California. It grows as a tall, broad-crowned tree with irregular, contorted branches and gray, deeply fissured bark. Leaves are leathery, oblong to obovate with 5–7 deep lobes; the upper surface is dark green and the underside paler. In spring, catkins appear and acorns about 2–3 cm long mature in autumn; fall color ranges from yellow to coppery-orange or brown. This oak is drought-tolerant, tolerating dry, rocky, or well-drained soils, and is long-lived, contributing a sculptural presence in landscapes and providing habitat. In cultivation, Garry oak prefers full sun to partial shade and low water once established, performing best in rich, loamy soils with good drainage and a pH around 5.0–7.0. Pruning should be done in July or August to minimize disease, and large limb removal or over-thinning avoided. Propagation is by fresh seeds sown in fall or stratified for spring sowing; seeds germinate readily in warm, moist conditions and regeneration is enhanced by disturbance such as fire. Acorns are edible after leaching and the wood is used for furniture, flooring, and various wood products; the tree provides wildlife habitat and food, making it a valuable component of native plantings and landscapes.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

20-120 feet

Spread

360-720 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Quercus garryana has no single ideal soil type; tolerates well-drained loamy, sandy, rocky, and clay soils.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

5.0-7.0

Bloom Color

Greenish-yellow (male catkins) and red (female flowers).

Bloom Time

Spring (March to June)

Foliage Color

Upper surface dark green; lower surface pale green to yellow-green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow, Brown

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow growth, 0–1 ft per year

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds (acorns), Vegetative propagation via sprouts from dormant buds on cut stumps, at root collars, and along exposed trunks, Layering or rooting of cuttings is difficult and not reliably successful

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds