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Quercus berberidifolia

California scrub oak

Fagaceae

California and northern Baja California

Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Quercus berberidifolia is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the beech family (Fagaceae), typically 3-13 feet (1-4 m) tall and about as wide, forming a dense, intricately branched crown. The small, stiff, leathery leaves are 0.4-1 inch (1-2.5 cm) long, oblong to nearly round, with spiny-toothed or wavy margins resembling those of barberry, glossy green above and paler beneath. It is wind-pollinated; yellowish male catkins hang in spring as the new growth emerges, while the inconspicuous female flowers sit at the leaf bases. Acorns mature in a single season, 0.6-1.2 inches (1.5-3 cm) long, with a shallow, scaly cap, and ripen brown in fall. The bark is gray and shallowly furrowed. It is a dominant shrub of California chaparral, growing on dry slopes and ridges, and resprouts from a woody base after fire. One limitation is its slow growth and dense, spiny habit, which make it hard to place in small or tidy gardens.

Native Range

Quercus berberidifolia is native to California, from the coast ranges and Sierra Nevada foothills south into northern Baja California, Mexico. It grows in chaparral and dry woodland on slopes below about 5,000 feet (1,500 m).

Suggested Uses

Quercus berberidifolia is used in California native and habitat gardens, on dry slopes, and in chaparral restoration and erosion control. Its dense form works as an informal screen or wildlife thicket. The slow growth and spiny foliage limit its use in small, formal spaces.

How to Identify

Small, stiff, leathery leaves 0.4-1 inch (1-2.5 cm) long have spiny-toothed, barberry-like margins, glossy green above and dull beneath. The dense, rigid branching and acorns 0.6-1.2 inches (1.5-3 cm) long with shallow, scaly caps are typical. It hybridizes with other scrub oaks, but the small rounded leaves and shrub form separate it from Quercus durata, which has gray-green, rolled leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 13'

Width/Spread3' - 13'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring

Wind-pollinated flowers appear in spring, generally March to May, as the new leaves expand. Yellowish male catkins are the visible part; the female flowers are tiny and easily missed. Acorns develop through summer and ripen in fall of the same year.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

glossy green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

rocky sand loam clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Reaches mature size in 15-30 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Quercus berberidifolia grows in full sun on dry, rocky, well-drained soils and tolerates poor, shallow ground. Once established it needs no summer water and declines with regular summer irrigation, which encourages root pathogens in warm soil. It withstands heat, drought, and wind, and resprouts from the base after fire or cutting. Growth is slow, often only a few inches a year. It supports many native insects and gives wildlife cover and acorns. Established plants need no fertilizer or routine care.

Pruning

Pruning is minimal and done in late summer or fall, outside the wet season when oak pathogens spread. Dead or crossing branches are removed to open the dense interior. The shrub resprouts readily, so it tolerates renewal cutting near the base.