Quercus garryana var. semota
Oregon white oak
(c) John Rusk, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fagaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Quercus garryana var. semota (Oregon white oak) is a native California shrub / tree in the Fagaceae family, recognized by shrubby habit in dry interior sites separates from var. garryana.
Oregon white oak is a native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, northeastern Transverse Ranges, and Modoc Plateau on dry slopes, in open conifer forests, and chaparral at elevations of 725 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers in small, inconspicuous clusters. Growing as a multi-trunked shrub or small tree 3 to 5 meters tall with spreading branches, it develops distinctive terminal buds 2 to 5 millimeters long. Its leaves are 5 to 9 centimeters long, with a distinctive undersurface covered in star-shaped hairs with 6 to 8 rays less than 0.3 millimeters long, giving the foliage a soft, textured appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species; shrubby habit in dry interior sites separates from var. garryana
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, open conifer forest, chaparral
Elevation: 725-1800 m
Bloom period
Quercus garryana var. semota blooms Apr-Jun.
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 garryana var. semota native to California?
Yes. Quercus garryana var. semota is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Quercus garryana var. semota bloom?
Quercus garryana var. semota blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Quercus garryana var. semota belong to?
Quercus garryana var. semota is in the Fagaceae family, genus Quercus.
What habitat does Quercus garryana var. semota grow in?
Quercus garryana var. semota grows in dry slopes, open conifer forest, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.