Quercus durata

Common Names

Leather Oak, California Scrub Oak

Summary

Leather Oak is a California-endemic evergreen shrub or small tree, typically forming a dense, mounded habit about 1–3.7 m tall and wide. Leaves are small, leathery, and often with rolled-under margins; growth is slow-to-moderate, with cream- to greenish spring flowers and acorns maturing in about six months (nuts about 0.5–1 in long) that arise from a woody canopy typical of chaparral and foothill woodlands, often on serpentine soils.

Prefers full sun and well-drained, dry soils and is drought-tolerant, tolerating rocky, serpentine, or clay-rich substrates with a pH of 6.0–7.0; hardy in USDA zones 6–10; propagation by seeds or cuttings; pruning during dormancy to shape or remove dead branches. Commonly used in xeriscaping, bank stabilization, and hedges, with edible seeds (roasted seeds used as a coffee substitute) and wildlife value, including attraction for butterflies and moths, and it is noted as bonsai-friendly.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-12 feet

Spread

3-12 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Serpentine soils

Soil Drainage

Medium drainage

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soils (neutral acceptable)

Bloom Color

Cream, Green

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Grayish/yellowish upper surface

Fall Foliage Color

No fall foliage color

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Wind-pollinated; attracts butterflies, birds, and other insects