Engelmann oak, also known as mesa oak and Pasadena oak, is rare tree native to the open woods and chaparral in the foothills of Southern California and northern Baha California. It is a member of the oak family, Fagaceae, that also includes beeches and chestnuts. The single trunked trees have sparsely branched limbs and brown to light gray to whitish bark. The leathery blue-green leaves are oval with shallow lobes, 1-2.5 inches long, and may be wavy. They are usually evergreen but may be deciduous in hot dry summers. The small yellow flowers are produced in male and female catkins in the same tree and the female flowers give way to acorns half to one inch long. Trees are valued for their handsome foliage and the shade they can provide. Although the wood is strong it warps and cracks when dried so is not a good source of timber.
Type: Evergreen tree
Outstanding Feature: Foliage
Form: Upright with rounded crown
Growth Rate: Moderate
Bloom: Small yellow flowers are produced in male and female catkins in the same tree
Size: 40-60’ H x 40-50’ W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average to fertile, moderately moist, well-drained; somewhat drought tolerant
Hardiness: Zones 8-10
Care: Low maintenance
Pests and Diseases: Susceptible to Pythium, Armillaria, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, goldspotted oak borer, galls, acorn predation by beetles
Propagation: Seed
Karen Meyers