Quercus parvula var. shrevei
Shreve oak
(c) Konshau Duman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Konshau Duman · licence
Family: Fagaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Quercus parvula var. shrevei (Shreve oak) is a native California tree in the Fagaceae family, recognized by tree habit in coastal moist woodlands.
Shreve oak is a California native tree found in southern North Coast, North Coast Interior, central western California (excluding southern Coast Ranges interior), and western Transverse Ranges in moist woodland and forest habitats at elevations below 1,190 meters. Flowering from March to May, this tree produces inconspicuous flowers typical of oak species. Growing to heights less than 30 meters, it develops a spreading, rounded canopy with multiple trunks. Its leaves are typically dark green, leathery, and have a distinctive rounded to broadly elliptical shape with smooth or slightly toothed margins. The tree produces acorns characteristic of California oak species, providing important ecological resources for wildlife in its native woodland habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; key feature is tree habit in coastal moist woodlands
Habitat and range
Habitat: +- moist woodland, forest
Elevation: < 1190 m
California counties: Marin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Mendocino, Monterey, Contra Costa, Kern, Lake, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Solano, Humboldt, Glenn
Bloom period
Quercus parvula var. shrevei blooms Mar-May.
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 parvula var. shrevei native to California?
Yes. Quercus parvula var. shrevei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Quercus parvula var. shrevei bloom?
Quercus parvula var. shrevei blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Quercus parvula var. shrevei grow?
Quercus parvula var. shrevei occurs in Marin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Mendocino, Monterey, Contra Costa, Kern, Lake and other counties, at elevations of < 1190 m.
What plant family does Quercus parvula var. shrevei belong to?
Quercus parvula var. shrevei is in the Fagaceae family, genus Quercus.
What habitat does Quercus parvula var. shrevei grow in?
Quercus parvula var. shrevei grows in +- moist woodland, forest.
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.