Species › Plants › Canyon Live Oak

Canyon Live Oak

Quercus chrysolepis

CommonPlant
Illustration of Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis)

Canyon Live Oak is the most widely distributed oak in California, growing on rocky canyon walls, slopes, and ridges from Oregon to Baja California. It is extremely tolerant of drought and poor soils. Its acorns are an important food for scrub jays, band-tailed pigeons, and black bears. The massive, gnarled old trees can live for hundreds of years.

Habitat
Rocky canyons, slopes, and mountain ridges throughout California
Diet
Acorns eaten by scrub jays, band-tailed pigeons, and bears
How common
Common

Best time to see a Canyon Live Oak

The best time to see a Canyon Live Oak is April–September, when about 60% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 13,143 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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