Quercus kelloggii

Common Names

California Black Oak, Black Oak, Kellogg Oak, Californian Black Oak

Summary

California Black Oak is a deciduous oak native to California and western Oregon, typically forming a broad, rounded crown and reaching about 30–80 ft tall with a trunk diameter of 14–40 inches. It features dark gray to nearly black bark with deep ridges, leaves that are deeply lobed with 7–11 bristle-tipped teeth, and fall color that ranges from yellow to orange; acorns are produced and the tree is long-lived, often 300–500 years, with regeneration from basal sprouts after cutting or fire as part of its fire-adapted ecology.

In cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade and deep, well-drained soils, is drought-tolerant once established, and is hardy in USDA zones 6–9; planting is best in dormancy with deep watering after installation, plus mulch and protection from waterlogging. Practical uses include wildlife habitat and landscape shade; wood is valued for cabinetry, flooring, turning, and pallets, while acorns provide wildlife food; regeneration after fire or cutting via sprouts supports stands in fire-prone landscapes, and management often includes thinning and prescribed burns to maintain oak-dominated communities; susceptibility to sudden oak death in some regions is a consideration.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

30-80 ft

Spread

30-50 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6a-9b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Deep, well-drained, medium-to-coarse-textured soil, pH 5.5–7.5

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soils

Soil pH

5.5-7.5, Acidic to neutral soils

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring (mid-March to mid-May)

Foliage Color

Green, yellow, orange, and red in fall.

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow, Orange, Red, Russet

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow-growing; fastest in early life, up to about 0.6 m/yr, then declines with age.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds and vegetative sprouts (basal sprouts from stumps; epicormic root-crown/bole sprouts) after cutting or fire

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds