Quercus cedrosensis

Cedros island oak, Cedros Island Oak

Family: Fagaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Cedros island oak is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native shrub found in the southwestern Peninsula Ranges on Otay Mountain in San Diego County in chaparral at elevations of 100 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces flowers in muted tones within its evergreen canopy. Growing as a variable shrub from decumbent forms to 3 meters tall or prostrate forms to 20 centimeters, it features distinctive brown, hairy twigs that turn dark gray with age. Its leaves are small and variable, ranging from 0.6 to 2 centimeters long, with lanceolate to ovate blades that are glossy green on top and glaucous underneath, often with subtle spine-tipped irregular teeth. The fruit develops as a narrow ovoid nut nestled in a cup-shaped structure, maturing over two years with a tomentose interior shell.

Habitat: Chaparral

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 100-1800 m

Bioregions: sw PR (Otay Mtn, San Diego Co.)

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.