Virginia Tech Dendrology

Engelmann oak Fagaceae Quercus engelmannii Greene symbol: QUEN
Leaf: Alternate, evergreen, or drought-deciduous, oblong to elliptical, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, leathery, entire or with a few sharp teeth, distinctly dull and blue- or gray-green above, a bit greener below and somewhat fuzzy.
Flower: Species is monoecious; males in long (2 to 4 inches) narrow, drooping catkins, yellow-green; females inconspicuous reddish green spike in leaf axils, appearing with the leaves.
Fruit: A stout, egg-shaped acorn, 1 inch long with warty thick cap covering 1/3 to nearly 1/2 of nut, matures in 1 season in the fall.
Twig: Slender to moderate, brown and fuzzy; clustered terminal buds are reddish brown, blunt tipped and generally hairy.
Bark: Gray, with narrow scaly ridges and shallow furrows.
Form: A medium sized tree reaching up to 50 feet, generally a single, short crooked trunk with large twisted, spreading limbs forming a sparse crown.
Looks like: coast live oak - interior live oak - canyon live oak - tanoak

Additional Range Information: Quercus engelmannii is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
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