When does Quercus garryana bloom?

Quercus garryana blooms in April and May, producing small catkins before the leaves are fully out.

How much sun does Quercus garryana need?

Quercus garryana grows best in full sun and develops its broad, spreading crown when it has open exposure. Young trees can tolerate some part sun in denser woodland settings.

How much water does Quercus garryana need?

Once established, Quercus garryana handles low water well and is adapted to dry summer conditions, though it can also grow in sites with somewhat more moisture.

What insects visit the flowers of Quercus garryana?

Bees and beetles are known to visit the catkins of Quercus garryana, though like most oaks it also relies heavily on wind for pollen movement.

Is Oregon Oak toxic to livestock?

Oregon Oak is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (slight severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.

Is Oregon Oak HOA-friendly?

Oregon Oak takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Oregon Oak

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Quercus garryana

Last reviewed: September 2026

Quercus garryana is a deciduous oak that grows as a broad, sturdy tree in dry woodlands and grassy savannas along the Pacific coast, blooming in April and May and tolerating full sun and low summer water once established.

Oregon Oak (Quercus garryana) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Oregon Oak is listed as toxic to grazing livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) at a slight level by the USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab). This is a livestock indicator and is separate from pet toxicity.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

180"–600" H × 180"–600" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

CA, OR, WA

Pollinators

bees, beetles

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 area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Central California Valley Southern California Mountains North American Deserts Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

A deciduous tree native to western North America with distinctive lobed leaves and acorns. It grows slowly but can reach impressive heights of 15-50 feet with equal spread, offering substantial shade and wildlife habitat. Its spring catkins give way to acorns that mature in the fall.

Growing Oregon Oak

Grow Oregon Oak in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 180 to 600 inches tall and spread 180 to 600 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Oregon Oak takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Extremely large mature size exceeds most residential front yard scales
Leaf drop creates seasonal maintenance needs
Slow growth means decades to reach aesthetic maturity

Wildlife value

Host plant for California Hairstreak, Mottled Duskywing.

This oak supports numerous wildlife species including bees and beetles that visit its spring flowers. The acorns provide crucial food for birds, squirrels, and other mammals.

Common questions

When does Quercus garryana bloom?: Quercus garryana blooms in April and May, producing small catkins before the leaves are fully out.
How much sun does Quercus garryana need?: Quercus garryana grows best in full sun and develops its broad, spreading crown when it has open exposure. Young trees can tolerate some part sun in denser woodland settings.
How much water does Quercus garryana need?: Once established, Quercus garryana handles low water well and is adapted to dry summer conditions, though it can also grow in sites with somewhat more moisture.
What insects visit the flowers of Quercus garryana?: Bees and beetles are known to visit the catkins of Quercus garryana, though like most oaks it also relies heavily on wind for pollen movement.
Is Oregon Oak toxic to dogs?: Oregon Oak is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
Is Oregon Oak toxic to cats?: Oregon Oak is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
Is Oregon Oak toxic to livestock?: Oregon Oak is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (slight severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.
Is Oregon Oak HOA-friendly?: Oregon Oak takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

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.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Oregon Oak? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Add this plant to your garden

iPhone app Android app

Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant

Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz