How much sun does Palmer oak need?

Palmer oak grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Palmer oak bloom?

Palmer oak blooms in March and April.

Where is Palmer oak native?

Palmer oak (Quercus palmeri) is native to AZ, CA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.

What butterflies or moths does Palmer oak host?

Palmer oak is a larval host plant for California sister.

Palmer oak

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Quercus palmeri

Last reviewed: September 2026

Toxicity unknown

Palmer oak (Quercus palmeri) 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

72"–180" H × 96"–240" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr

Native to

AZ, CA

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Southern California Mountains Mojave Basin and Range Arizona/New Mexico Mountains Madrean Archipelago Sonoran Basin and Range Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

A dense, evergreen scrub oak with stiff, spiny, holly-like leaves that form thickets on dry slopes. Some stands are ancient, spreading clonally over long periods on chaparral and desert-edge hillsides.

Wildlife value

Host plant for California sister.

Its foliage is a larval host for the California sister butterfly, and the leaves provide year-round cover for birds.

Common questions

How much sun does Palmer oak need?: Palmer oak grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Palmer oak bloom?: Palmer oak blooms in March and April.
Where is Palmer oak native?: Palmer oak (Quercus palmeri) is native to AZ, CA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
What butterflies or moths does Palmer oak host?: Palmer 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.

See all plant problem guides

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