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Valley Oak

This deciduous tree is the largest oak in North America. Trunk and limbs of mature trees are massive, with thick, ashy gray distinctly checked bark. Limbs are often picturesquely twisted with long, drooping outer branches. Native to California. Most characteristic native tree of the Central Valley.

Scientific Name:

Quercus lobata

Mature Height:

40 - 75'

Mature Spread:

50 - 90'

Leaves:

Leaves have deep, rounded lobes, 3 - 4" long, deep green above, paler beneath.

Flowers:

Catkins.

Fruit:

Shallow cupped acorn, 3/4 - 1 3/4".

Root System:

No large surface roots.

Growth Rate:

Moderate to fast - can grow 2 1/2 - 3' a year under optimum conditions.

Cultural Notes:

Tolerates high heat and alkaline soils.

Sacramento Specimen:

A natural grove can be seen off Garden Highway on the corner of Gateway Oaks and Royal Oaks Way in South Natomas.

Mosaic Law Synagogue on Sierra Blvd.

East end of the State capitol grounds.

SMUD grounds.

East Lawn Memorial Park, 43rd & Folsom.

Minimum Planting Distances

• from SMUD pad mounted equipment (such as a transformer mounted on a concrete pad): 8 feet
• from a building foundation: 15 feet
• from walks and driveways: 8 feet
• from an air conditioner: 8 feet
• from a fence: 6 feet
• from a utility offset (such as an underground line, pipe or cable): 6 feet
• from a utility overhead (such as an overhead power line): 30 feet
• from a swimming pool: 15 feet
• from a septic system: 15 feet
• between trees*: 25 feet

* To calculate the planting distance between different size trees, add the distances between each species in the column and divide answer in half. Example: the distance between a Red Maple (large tree) and Amur Maple (small tree) is calculated: 25 feet + 15 feet = 40 feet ÷ 2 = 20 feet. The distance between these two different size trees should be 20 feet.