Tanbark Oak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus)

In cool, shady areas, this oak’s leaves show perhaps a dozen strong serations on the side of the leaf, with a strongly marked vein going to each. The underside of young leaves often has a lot of pale fuzz. In the fall, catkin flowers change the overall color of the tree from green to a pale yellow. Tanbark acorns are distinctive, with hairy caps.

January	April		July		October
Evergreen leaves
		Catkins
				Acorns

Field ID Tips

· Leaves 3 – 5” long, oval, ending in a point.

· Leaves strongly serrated, with an obvious vein going to each serration.

· Leaves have a stiff texture, with a shiny coating on the top, and a fuzzy surface underneath.

· Acorn cap is hairy on the outside.

Links:

Cal Photos

Wikipedia

Jepson Manual

Mountain Home to West Point Trees

Tanbark Oak leaves are distinctive, with their strong veins ending at serration points. Note the hairy acorn shell.

This from Wikipedia: “At first [new leaves] are covered in dense orange-brown scurfy hairs on both sides, but those on the upper surface soon wear off, those on the under surface persist longer but eventually wear off too.”

Several sources say these catkins remind them of dreadlocks. Botanically, they’re more closely related to chestnuts than to true oaks.

California fall color is different than back east. Manzanita trees turn red with berries, and tanbark oaks turn yellow with catkins.