Desert scrub oak
Quercus cornelius-mulleri
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Desert scrub oak (Quercus cornelius-mulleri) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
60"–180" H × 96"–240" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr
Native to
CA
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
A dense, evergreen scrub oak with small, spiny-toothed leaves forming thickets on dry, rocky slopes. It grows at the transition between chaparral and desert, providing structure in a harsh environment.
Wildlife value
Host plant for California sister.
Its foliage is a larval host for the California sister butterfly, and the dense canopy provides shelter and acorns for wildlife.
Common questions
- How much sun does Desert scrub oak need?
- Desert scrub oak grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Desert scrub oak bloom?
- Desert scrub oak blooms in March and April.
- Where is Desert scrub oak native?
- Desert scrub oak (Quercus cornelius-mulleri) is native to CA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What butterflies or moths does Desert scrub oak host?
- Desert scrub oak is a larval host plant for California sister.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Desert scrub oak? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz