# coast live oak (*Quercus agrifolia*) The coast live oak is a strong tree that can grow very tall and wide. It has thick, dark green leaves and provides shade for many animals and people. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![coast live oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Quercus_agrifolia_acorns_Mount_Diablo.jpg&width=800) Photo: John Morgan from Walnut Creek, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quercus_agrifolia_acorns_Mount_Diablo.jpg) ## Appearance The coast live oak has dark green, leathery leaves with spiny-toothed edges, which stay on the tree all year. Its trunk is often gnarled and multi-branched, supporting a broad, dense, and rounded canopy. The bark is rough and deeply furrowed, appearing dark gray to black. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Fagaceae - **Genus:** Quercus ## Interesting facts - Its bumpy acorns were a super important food for Native American people! - Its dark green, spiky leaves stay fresh and "live" all year long! - Many tiny insects and baby birds find perfect homes hidden within its branches! - This tough tree can grow right next to the ocean, handling salty breezes! ## Special abilities - **Evergreen Shield:** Coast live oak keeps its leaves all year long, helping it make food even during winter when other trees are bare. - **Drought Survivor:** This tree can grow very deep roots to find precious water, helping it thrive in California's dry summers. - **Salty Wind Warrior:** Coast live oak can withstand strong, salty winds near the ocean, making it a tough coastal survivor. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1000-2500 cm - **Spread:** 1500-3000 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.1-0.3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Western Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus griseus*) — eats its protein-rich acorns - **Eats:** California Oakworm (*Phryganidia californica*) — larvae feed on the tree's leaves - **Depends on:** [California Scrub-Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-scrub-jay) (*Aphelocoma californica*) — buries and disperses its acorns - **Shelter:** [Western Screech-Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-screech-owl) (*Otus kennicottii*) — nests and roosts in its branches ## Traits - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful around trees and don't climb too high without an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify coast live oak? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is coast live oak? 1000-2500 cm ### How wide does coast live oak spread? 1500-3000 cm ### How big are the flowers on coast live oak? 0.1-0.3 cm ### When does coast live oak bloom? Spring ### Is coast live oak edible? No ### Is coast live oak toxic? Mild ### What is coast live oak's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Arastradero Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arastradero-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Arroyo Conejo Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arroyo-conejo-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-diamond-mines-regional-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Conejo Valley Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conejo-valley-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Hakone Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hakone-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Little Italy](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/little-italy) — California, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see coast live oak](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/coast-live-oak) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Coast Live Oak: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coast-live-oak)