How to tell Scrub Oaks from Live Oaks
by Bruce Homer-Smith

Scrub Oaks (6 species in California) and Live Oaks (both coastal and interior) look similar – they all have leathery evergreen oak leaves, generally with spiny edges. They’re widespread across California. Here’s how to tell them apart.

Habit

Scrub Oaks are almost always shrubs. Live Oaks are generally trees, but can grow as shrubs in dry chaparral conditions. If your plant is over 15 feet high or looks like a tree, it’s almost for sure a Live Oak.

Coast Live Oak – photo courtesy Zoya Akulova-Barlow

Leaves

Scrub Oak leaves are short - generally less than 1.5 inches long. Live Oak leaves are longer - generally more than 1.5 inches long.

Also, Scrub Oak leaves are shiny above and fuzzy below:

Desert Scrub Oak – photo © Keir Morse

Live Oak leaves are shiny on both sides, not fuzzy on the bottom.

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Interior Live Oak – photo courtesy Julie Kierstead Nelson

Scrub Oaks almost always have holly-like points along their edges, but Live Oaks often do as well.

Acorns

Scrub Oak acorns grow in singles or pairs. The most common species (Quercus berberidifolia), has fat acorns with warty caps.

Scrub Oak – photo courtesy Keir Morse

Live Oak acorns often grow in clusters. They’re long and pointed. Their caps look and feel like rough shingles.

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Coast Live Oak – photo courtesy Keir Morse

All acorns start green and turn brown, so their color is not useful for telling them apart.

Bark

Scrub Oak bark is greenish-gray with horizontal lines (lenticels) along the surface of the bark.

Sonoran Scrub Oak – photo courtesy Keir Morse

Live Oak bark is silver-grey, and develops vertical furrows.

Coast Live Oak – photo courtesy Zoya Akulova-Barlow

Thanks to https://homeguides.sfgate.com/difference-between-live-oak-scrub-oak-77388.html , Jepson E-Flora, Brad Kelley and Wendy Dreskin for information in this article.

Corrections/Comments: bruce@PlantID.net