Description: Evergreen tree with short trunk, large, spreading, horizontal branches, and broad, rounded crown; sometimes shrubby.

Height: 6-30m

Diameter: 0.3-0.9m or more

Leaves: evergreen; 2.5-8 cm long, half to almost as wide. Elliptical to oblong; short-pointed at tip, rounded or blunt at base; with edges turned under and often with spiny teeth (especially on young twigs); thick and leathery. Shiny green above; lower surface at first dull with yellow down, often becoming grey and nearly glabrous the second year. The yellow hair is never as well developed in cultivation in the UK as in its native range.

Bark: light grey, nearly smooth or scaly.

Acorns: solitary or in pairs, 2-5cm long; variable in size and shape, egg-shaped, turban-like with shallow, thick cup of scales densely covered with yellowish hairs; scarcely stalked; maturing second year.

Habitat: In canyons and on sandy, gravelly, and rocky slopes; in pure stands and mixed forests. California plant communities Yellow Pine Forest (m14), Red Fir Forest (m15), Lodgepole Forest (m16), Foothill Woodland (m22), Chaparral (m23) and Valley Grassland (m25).

Range: SW Oregon south through Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada to S California; local in W Nevada and in W and C Arizona; at 300-2000m; in Arizona at 1700-2300m.

Many consider this to be the most beautiful of the California Oaks. Sargent notes that in its native state, it is surpassed in majestic dignity and massive strength by no other American oak except Q. virginiana. Trees exist with heads of branches up to 45m across. The species name, meaning "golden scale", refers to the yellowish acorn-cups. Another name, "Maul Oak" refers to the early use for mauls or wedges for splitting Redwood ties. Introduced to the UK in 1877 by Sargent, though apparently trees now in cultivation are from a later introduction.

Information: Audubon (1980), Bean III

Source: Mallet Court Nursery

Purchased: November 1993

Planted: As with many of the Mallet Court trees, despite the high price (£11.50) these turned out to be far too small to plant out when received (about 0.3m). Both were potted, and planted in the US Strip a year later, the first at B9E on 1994.10.13, and the second at B20A two days later.

Progress: The B20A tree has not survived, but the first is growing slowly. It seems to be suffering somewhat from the proximity of a rather ugly Sycamore which is scheduled for eventual removal, though as this is to its north, it should not be shaded by it. The height was 1.15 m on 1998.10.07, thought the leader is too thin to stand upright.

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