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California black oak Fagaceae Quercus kelloggii Newberry Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: QUKE
Leaf: Alternate, simple, deciduous; pinnately lobed (usually 7 lobes), each lobe is 3-toothed and bristle-tipped, sinuses may be shallow or deep; oblong or obovate in shape, 3 to 6 inches long; yellow-green, smooth and lustrous above and paler below.
Flower: Species is monoecious; inconspicuous, male and female flowers borne in separate aments (catkins), appearing with the leaves.
Fruit: Acorn, 1 to 2 1/2 inches long, reddish brown; cap is deep, covering about half the nut. Require 2 seasons to mature.
Twig: Reddish brown, ridged, smooth or minutely pubescent; terminal buds are large, pointed and clustered at the ends of the twigs.
Bark: Initially smooth and dark gray or black; when mature turning dark brown to black, broad, irregularly plated ridges, about 1 inch thick.
Form: A medium sized broad-leaved deciduous tree (40 to 80 feet tall and 1 to 2 1/2 feet in diameter) with an open, rounded top. At high elevations, it may occur as a large shrub.
 Looks like: Oregon white oak

California black oak leaf image
California black oak flower image
California black oak fruit image
California black oak twig image
California black oak bark image
California black oak form image
California black oak map image

Additional Range Information: Quercus kelloggii is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America - USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information