The Coast Live Oak is closely associated with Santa Maria-Style BBQ, a California central coast menu specialty. This long living hardwood tree is native to the California Floristic Province, and is classified as a 'red' oak. Its acorn nut is eaten by woodland animals, and historically used as a food source for Native Americans.
Classification
- Kingdom - Plantae
- Class: Magnoliophyta
- Order: Fagales
- Family: Fagaceae
- Genus: Quercus (Section: Lobatae)
- Species: Quercus agrifolia
Common Names
Encina ('little oaks'), Coast Live Oak, California Live Oak, California Red Oak
Description
The Coast Live Oak is a long living tree growing to about 40 feet tall. It is drought resistant and can live up to 250 years or more. The tree has a dense but broad crown with wide-spreading branches. It is wind pollinated.
This evergreen tree has dark green leaves which are oval in shape. Spinoses develop on the outer layer of leaves. When young, its bark is smooth. As it ages, it develops characteristic deep ridges on its trunk which provides a natural protection and tolerance against hot fires.
This species is vital to two insects. The California Oak Moth (Phryganidia californica) grows on the living or fallen leaves of the California Live Oak, and the Chionodes vanduzeei catapillar feeds exclusively on this species of tree. The Coast Live Oak woodlands is important to a number of wildlife: black bears, black-tailed deer, and a number of bird species (scrub jays, terns, acorn woodpeckers). While it is an ornamental tree, acorns of this tree historically were used as a Native American food source, and currently is used as a fuel source for BBQ and heating.
Habitat and Ecology
The Coast Live Oak grows on well-drained soils (silt, clay, granite - depending on its location), and is often found near streams. It enjoys a 'mediterranean' climate: mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
Trees grow from sea level to 3,000 feet in their Northern growing range, all the way to 5,000 in their Southern growing range. Growth begins in winter and spring with germination occurring from November through February, depending on elevation. Flowers grow in spring and produce slender-looking acorns.
The trees reach maturity around 4 years and require regular watering and weeding, taking care of how you water. Avoid watering during summer, and water away from the trunk within the oak's canopy (its natural drip line).
Native Americans used the acorns of the Coast Live Oak as a food staple. Because of the tannins the acorns contain, they must be leached before using as food. A great article on acorns and the whole acorn leaching process is found on eattheweeds.com. The acorn nuts are ripe when they separate themselves from the cap and fall from the tree.
As far as feeding wildlife, this oak provides food for many animals in different ways: roots (feral pigs), acorns (black bears, black-tailed deer, non-game birds, livestock), tree sprouts (cattle), and foliage (goats, deer).
The wood makes a great fuel as wood or as charcoal. When used as a smoking wood, the smoke gives off a mild flavor. The wood is a required ingredient in traditional Santa Maria-Style BBQ.
Resources:
"Chionodes Vanduzeei." Global Species : Chionodes. Globalspecies.org, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
"Plants Profile for Quercus Agrifolia (California Live Oak)." Plants Profile for Quercus Agrifolia (California Live Oak). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
"Quercus Agrifolia." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Mar. 2014. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
Quercus Agrifolia." Quercus Agrifolia. USDA Forest Service: Fire Effects Information System, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
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