Street Trees Through the Seasons – Nuttall’s Scrub Oak

Quercus dumosa (Nuttall's Scrub Oak) is in the Fagaceae family. It is native to central California and Baja California; and is found in the Coast Ranges, coastal islands, and San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California. The tree is evergreen, and key diagnostics include a dense, twiggy, irregular canopy (the twigs grow at right angles to branches). Leaves are alternate, simple, 5/8 to 1”, shiny, dark green with whitish hairs and toothed margins. Flowers are insignificant yellowish green, and tassel-like in spring. Acorns are brown, conical to oblong, with a sharp taper and a scaled cup over 1/3 of the base. Bark is gray and thin, with checkered fissures and peeling plates.

Quercus dumosa - leaf shape and habit.

This tree has deep, strong roots that can penetrate and hold in rocky soil, and does well in a sunny location with dry well-drained soil once established.
 

Winter - the dense canopy persists all through the winter.	Spring - the tassel-like flowers give the tree a yellow cast.
Summer - the canopy is irregular but provides shade.	Fall - the canopy remains, but growth is evident.

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