Other Names:  Golden Cup Oak, Maul Oak

Description:

A southwest native evergreen tree with a well branched, broad rounded habit; foliage is leathery and dark green, with gray undersides; valuable in urban and garden settings as a street or landscape tree; very adaptable with low water requirements

Ornamental Features

Canyon Live Oak has attractive dark green foliage with gray undersides on a tree with a round habit of growth. The spiny oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. However, the fruit can be messy in the landscape and may require occasional clean-up. The furrowed gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Canyon Live Oak is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds and squirrels to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy

Canyon Live Oak is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Canyon Live Oak will grow to be about 60 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 60 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 150 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America.