Blue Oak Tree | California Native Drought Tolerant Tree

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Blue Oak

Quercus Douglasii

Iconic Blue-Gray Foliage • Extreme Drought Tolerance • Sculptural Foothill Native

$189.90

Container sizeSize guide 15 Gallon 24" Box

Plant Form Natural Standard

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Description

The Blue Oak is a iconic, drought-hardy deciduous oak of California's hot, dry interior foothills. It is characterized by its beautiful blue-gray foliage, rugged, picturesque form, and extreme drought tolerance. This slow-growing tree is perfectly adapted to thrive with no summer wateronce established, making it a quintessential choice for authentic, water-wise native landscapes.

Recognizable by its bluish-green to gray deciduous leaves, which provide a soft, cool color in the landscape before turning yellow-brown in fall.
Exhibits exceptional drought tolerance; mature trees in their native habitat survive on winter rainfall alone and are harmed by summer irrigation.
Develops a unique, gnarled, and spreading form that is highly sculptural, especially in winter when bare.
A perfect, low-maintenance tree for re-creating a California foothill woodland in hot, dry inland areas. Plant it and let nature take its course.

Quick Facts

Processed facts

Mature height: 15-60 ft.
Mature spread: 15-60 ft.
Light: Full sun

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Features:Foliage: Long-oval, leathery, thick leaves with wavy, shallow-lobed margins. The foliage is a distinctive bluish-gray to gray-green, turning yellow-orange in fall before dropping.Flowers: Inconspicuous; male flowers are greenish catkins, female flowers are reddish, appearing in spring.Fruit: Produces typical brown acorns.Bark & Habit: A deciduous tree with a broad, spreading, often irregular crown and picturesque, twisted, arching branches. The bark is light gray and becomes checkered with age.
Growth Rate: Slow
Key Advantages:Extremely drought tolerant, adapted to hot, dry summers.Picturesque, sculptural form with age.Important habitat tree for California wildlife.Beautiful blue-gray foliage color.Very low maintenance once established
Landscape Uses:Specimen tree in water-wise landscapes.Native and wildlife gardens.Large properties and open spaces.Parks and naturalized areas

Faqs

Q: How much should I water it?
A: The key is deep watering during establishment (first 3-5 years) to grow a deep taproot, then taper off completely. A mature Blue Oak in well-drained soil should receive no supplemental summer water. Overwatering is a leading cause of death.

Q: Why is it so slow-growing?
A: Its slow growth is an adaptation to arid conditions. It invests energy in developing a massive, deep root system to access groundwater, which ensures its long-term survival during drought. Above-ground growth is secondary.

📍 Primary Delivery Area · San Francisco Bay Area

Local delivery across the Bay Area — and beyond.

San Francisco Bay Area is our primary local delivery market. Victory Nursery also serves additional California markets and selected extended delivery areas by arrangement.

Regular local delivery: San Francisco, Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay, Marin, Tracy / Mountain House and surrounding service areas.

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15 Gallon

One of the most common larger landscape sizes for trees and shrubs. It offers noticeable height and fullness while still being practical for many residential planting projects.

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24" Box

A substantial tree and shrub size with immediate visual impact. It usually requires a dolly, hand truck or similar equipment for moving, and access should be considered before delivery.

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Gallon describes the container size, not a guaranteed plant height. Individual plants vary. Contact our nursery for current measurements.

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