Species PlantsValley Oak

Valley Oak

Quercus lobata

UncommonPlant
Illustration of Valley Oak (Quercus lobata)

Valley Oak is the largest native oak in California, with massive, spreading canopies that once dominated the Central Valley and coastal valleys. Some individuals are over 500 years old with trunk diameters exceeding 10 feet. Acorn woodpeckers, western scrub jays, deer, and black bears depend heavily on the large, elongated acorns. Valley oak woodland is now a threatened ecosystem.

Habitat
California's Central Valley grasslands, foothills, and coastal valleys
Diet
Large acorns critical for acorn woodpeckers, scrub jays, deer, and black bears
How common
Uncommon

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