California Gardens - The Year Round Gardening Site

Quercus kelloggii - Maple Leafed Oak

Quercus kelloggii is most often found as a medium sized tree, taller than wide, but with a goodly amount of time and superior conditions the Maple Leafed Oak can grow 80-100 feet tall. The Maple Leafed Oak grows through the foothills of much of California up to an elevation of 7000 feet at the southern limits of its range. The foliage of Quercus kelloggii is quite colorful, starting out fuzzy and pink, then apple green and finally turning brilliant yellows and reds in the Fall. Young trees are often found as an understory to the pines in the Sierras. The Maple Leafed Black Oak grows at the lower elevations where there is snow. In the garden Quercus kelloggii requires decent drainage. For acorn mash some think the acorns of the Maple Leafed Oak have the best flavor when properly prepared, others think that the skill of the cook is the bigger factor. Quercus kelloggii is a host plant for the Hedgerow Hairstreak and Western Tussock Moth Caterpillar.

Quercus kelloggii, Maple Leafed Oak

New pink leaves greet the Spring Quercus kelloggii - Maple Leafed Oak. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.

Quercus kelloggii, Maple Leafed Oak

Golden Fall foliage of Quercus kelloggii - Maple Leafed Oak. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.

Quercus kelloggii, Maple Leafed Oak

Red Fall foliage of Quercus kelloggii - Maple Leafed Oak. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.

The other oaks featured on this site:
Quercus agrifolia * Coast Live Oak
Quercus berberidifolia * Scrub Oak
Quercus douglassi * Blue Oak
Quercus durata * Leather Oak
Quercus garryana * Oregon White Oak, Garry Oak
Quercus john-tuckeri * Tucker's Oak
Quercus lobata * Valley Oak
Quercus muehlenbergii * Chinkapin Oak

California Native Trees that reliably produce Colorful Fall Foliage in our dry climate:
Acer macrophyllum
Acer negundo californicum
Cornus nuttallii
Fraxinus dipetala
Juglans californica
Platanus racemosa
Populus fremontii
Quercus douglassii
Quercus garryana
Quercus kelloggii
Quercus lobata
Salix lasiolepis