Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT)

Heavy-limbed tree growing 12 to 35 m tall, with main stem 60 to 270 cm in diameter, though often short and crooked in rocky habitats. Bark is light grey, with thick furrows and ridges. Leaves are alternate, deciduous, deeply round-lobed typical oak leaves to 12 cm long, shiny dark green above, greenish-yellow and brown-haired below, turning dull yellow-brown in fall. Male and female flowers are tiny and inconspicuous, borne in separate inflorescences on the same tree but are self-incompatible. Male flowers are hanging catkins female flowers are single or small clusters. Flowers at same time as leaves appear. Fruit is an acorn found singly or in pairs, 2.5-3 cm long ovoid to obovoid, with a shallow cup enclosing less than third of the acorn (Elias, 1980; Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994). Photo by Brian Reader.

Oregon white oak, Pacific oak, shin oak

Fagaceae

In BC occurs primarily within the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and the Vancouver Island ranges. Grows at low elevations on various sites and soil types. In BC ranges from Comox through the Gulf Islands to Greater Victoria. Isolated occurrence in the lower Fraser Canyon near Yale.

Rocky outcrops to deep, rich, well-drained soils. Grows best in the latter.

pH 5-6.5

Moist to dry.

Shade tolerant as young seedlings, becoming shade intolerant with age.

Climax species on open, xeric sites. Tends to be out-competed on mesic sites unless maintained by frequent disturbance (i.e. fire).

Characteristic species of Garry oak ecosystems.

Potential reclamation species in the drier phase of the Coastal Douglas-fir Biogeoclimatic Zone.

Acorns consumed by numerous species of animals.

Valued species, particularly older specimens with intricate branching patterns. Widely used as an ornamental in the Pacific Northwest for spacious lawns, parks and avenues.

Wood used for combs and digging sticks and burned as fuel. Acorns eaten after soaking to remove tannins. Bark infusions used to treat tuberculosis and other ailments (Turner, 1998).

February to May

Late summer

September to October

Two to three years

165 - 225

Empty or insect damaged seeds common

Ripe acorns are best collected by hand-picking into picking bags (Banerjee et al., 2001) or by tapping off branches with a bamboo pole onto tarps. Avoid collecting mature fallen acorns to which the caps are still attached. Separate insect-damaged from sound seeds by presence of bore holes, and by floating off unsound acorns in water.

Seeds should be sown as soon a possible in the fall. If storage is necessary it should be for as short a time as possible. Store under moist conditions in a refrigerator (do not freeze) until sowing. Fresh acorns germinate rapidly under warm moist conditions. Soaking in water for one to several days improves germination (Jebb, 1995; Buis, 1996).

No dormancy exhibited, thus no treatment required.

Possible but not recommended for practical propagation operations.

For further information about growing Garry oaks, please see Growing Oak Seedlings in Small Containers and Forestry Facts: Guidelines for Establishment of Oak Seedlings.

For more information and pictures, visit the E-Flora BC website at www.eflora.bc.ca.