# Oregon oak (*Quercus garryana*) The Oregon oak is a strong tree that can grow very tall and wide. It has beautiful leaves that change colors in the fall, making it a lovely sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Oregon oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Garry_Oak_%287743625120%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Garry_Oak_%287743625120%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Oregon oak is a stately, deciduous tree with a broad, rounded crown. It has distinctive dark green leaves with deep, rounded lobes and thick, gray-brown, furrowed bark, making it stand out in western landscapes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Fagaceae - **Genus:** Quercus ## Interesting facts - Its tough, furrowed bark protects it like armor from wildfires. - Native peoples traditionally prepared and ate their acorns as a staple food! - One tree can drop thousands of acorns, feeding many hungry animals! - Sometimes, a single Oregon oak can live longer than 500 years! ## Special abilities - **Drought Buster:** Oregon oak has deep roots that help it find water in dry summers, making it very drought-resistant. - **Fire Shield Bark:** Oregon oak has thick, fire-resistant bark that helps protect its trunk from many wildfires. - **Acorn Powerhouse:** Oregon oak can produce abundant acorns, providing vital food for forest animals and new trees. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 500-3000 cm - **Spread:** 500-1500 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-5 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*) — hoards and buries many acorns. - **Eats:** [Steller's Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stellers-jay) (*Cyanocitta stelleri*) — disperses acorns, helping new oaks grow. - **Shelter:** [White-breasted Nuthatch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-breasted-nuthatch) (*Sitta carolinensis*) — builds nests in tree cavities. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [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. - [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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [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 Stay clear of falling branches and always ask an adult before climbing trees. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Oregon 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 Oregon oak? 500-3000 cm ### How wide does Oregon oak spread? 500-1500 cm ### How big are the flowers on Oregon oak? 1-5 cm ### When does Oregon oak bloom? Spring ### Is Oregon oak edible? No ### Is Oregon oak toxic? Mild ### What is Oregon oak's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Lower Cushman Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lower-cushman-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Bush's Pasture Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bushs-pasture-park) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Mount Pisgah Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-pisgah-arboretum) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Oregon Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oregon-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Blue Lake Regional Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blue-lake-regional-park) — Oregon, US · Park - [Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burgoyne-bay-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Oregon oak](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/oregon-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: [Oregon oak: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oregon-oak)