Coastal Sage Scrub Oak
Quercus dumosa
Coastal sage scrub oak is a low evergreen oak of southern California's coastal chaparral, forming dense thickets that shelter birds and small mammals. Drought-hardy and valuable for restoring rare scrub habitat. Like other oaks, its acorns are traditional food once the bitter tannins are leached out.
- Family
- Fagaceae
- Type
- tree
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 9–9 ft
- Spacing
- 6–12 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade
- Soil moisture
- dry
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral, alkaline
- Bloom
- March, April, May
- Bloom colors
- yellow
- Wildlife value
- songbirds, mammals, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~557 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- specimen, hedge or screen
- Native states
- CA
Related native plants
More Quercus species
- Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
- Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
- White Oak (Quercus alba)
- Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)
- Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)
- Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)