Coast Live Oak

Scientific name
Quercus agrifolia Nee

Common names
Coast live oak, California live oak, encina

Height
20 to 40 feet; may reach 80 feet

Mature Tree DBH (Diam. at Breast Ht.)
1-4 ft.

Longevity
Long-lived, 125 to 250 yrs.

Sprouting
Very vigorous sprouter

Acorn
Matures first year; 3/4 to 2-3/4 in.; cup over 1/3 of nut and not warty

Foliage

Evergreen; 1-3 in.; roundish; dark and shiny above with gray or rusty fuzz underneath; cupped or spoon-shaped

Shade Tolerance
Shade tolerant throughout life

Fire Tolerance
Very tolerant of hot fires due to thick bark

Elevation

Below 3000 ft. in north and up to 5000 ft. in south

Associates
Forms pure stands; also grows with interior live oak and coast live oak

Sites
Common on valley floors or not-too-dry fertile slopes

Identification Notes

Confused with interior live oak but rounded and cupped leaves