Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia
California live oak
Photo: parent species Quercus agrifolia · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fagaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia (California live oak) is a native California shrub / tree in the Fagaceae family, recognized by Cismontane live oak; leaf underside nearly hairless (only vein-axil tufts) vs woolly-undersided var. oxyadenia.
California live oak is a native tree found in northern coastal, central valley, central western, and southwestern California bioregions in valleys, slopes, mixed-evergreen forest, and woodland at elevations below 1,440 meters. Flowering from mid-January to April, this tree produces small, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers in drooping catkins. Growing to heights of 10 to 25 meters with a broad, spreading canopy, it develops a massive, gnarled trunk with deeply furrowed bark. Its leathery evergreen leaves are dark green above, with sparse hairs underneath, particularly notable for hair tufts in the vein axils. The tree produces acorns that were an important traditional food source for indigenous California peoples.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Cismontane live oak; leaf underside nearly hairless (only vein-axil tufts) vs woolly-undersided var. oxyadenia
Habitat and range
Habitat: Valleys, slopes, mixed-evergreen forest, woodland
Elevation: < 1440 m
California counties: Ventura, San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Napa, San Luis Obispo, Orange, San Benito, Lake, Monterey, Alameda, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Siskiyou, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Mendocino, Solano
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia blooms Mid Jan-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Prunus: Quercus has acorns in cups; cherries/plums have fleshy round fruits.; vs Notholithocarpus: Quercus has drooping catkins; tanoak has upright flower spikes.; vs Rhamnus: Quercus has acorns; buckthorns have berry-like fruits.; vs Ceanothus: Quercus has acorns; California lilacs have small capsule fruits.; vs Platanus: Quercus has acorns; sycamores have hanging ball-shaped seed clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia native to California?
Yes. Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia bloom?
Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia blooms Mid Jan-Apr.
Where in California does Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia grow?
Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia occurs in Ventura, San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Napa, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of < 1440 m.
What plant family does Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia belong to?
Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia is in the Fagaceae family, genus Quercus.
What habitat does Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia grow in?
Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia grows in Valleys, slopes, mixed-evergreen forest, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.