What's So Special About Oregon White Oaks?

featured tree e r u t l u c i t r o H f o t n e What’s so m t r a p e D SU O esy Photos court special about Oregon Oregon white oak White Oaks? tree, leaves and bark. Photo by Cynthia Orlando, ODF Orlando, Cynthia by Photo Cynthia Orlando, Public Affairs Specialist The Oregon white oak (Quercus developments. In addition also been used for furniture, chairs, and garryana) is an attractive deciduous to urban development, yet wine barrels, and is also frequently used hardwood tree native to Oregon, found another challenge to this native for firewood. as far north as British Columbia and as tree is the spread of invasive plant species. far south as southern California. These In order to germinate, its seeds need to Worth the wait lovely hardwoods seem able to withstand be kept moist in soil or under leaf litter. Generally speaking, Oregon white both lengthy flooding and drought, and Unfortunately, invasive, non-native oaks grow slowly in both height and are most common on sites that are either plants like Scotch broom and Himalayan diameter. Unfortunately, park managers too exposed or too dry for other tree blackberry reduce the survival and and homeowners don’t plant Oregon species. growth rate of oak seedlings. white oak for landscaping because of During the 1800’s oak savanna was a its reputation as a slow grower. That’s common sight in the Willamette Valley. What’s in a name? a shame, as this tree really has a lot to Mature oaks provided an abundance The Oregon white oak’s scientific offer. of food for the Kalapuya Indians, who name, Quercus garryana, was chosen to used the tree’s acorns to make acorn honor Nicholas Garry, who served as Valuable real estate? meal. Its large acorns mature in one deputy governor and as a board member Ask birds, wildlife. season, ripening from late August to of the Hudson Bay Company. In the early An important aspect about all native November. 1800’s the Hudson Bay Company served plants and trees in general is their ability Although it can reproduce in its own as a center of the fur trade in the vicinity to provide much-needed habitat for shade, Oregon white oak will die after of Winnipeg, Man. Canada. Garry was wildlife. Diversity of bird species is often overtopping by Douglas-fir. Oregon’s known for his tactful and diplomatic higher in oak forests than in adjacent periodic summer wildfires and the fur trade dealings with both whites and conifer forests. Oregon white oaks burning practices of the Kalapuya created Natives alike. provide favorable habitat to a number white oaks that were mostly open-grown, Oregon white oak can also sprout from of important wildlife types, including individual trees. However, with the arrival cut stumps and root collars, and their the western gray squirrel, which is of European settlers and the suppression roots also go deeper than many other tree listed as threatened in Washington and of most naturally occurring fires, conifers types. A deep taproot and well-developed sensitive in Oregon - and to many birds, (evergreen trees) like Douglas-fir began lateral roots serve to make them very wind including dark-eyed juncos, goldfinches, to naturally encroach upon the oaks. firm, even in wet areas. nuthatches, wild turkeys, and acorn and It’s now estimated that more than 99 In the wood products industry, pileated woodpeckers. percent of pre-settlement prairies and Oregon white oak’s strong, hard, and Enjoy, appreciate, grow and cultivate savannas in Oregon have been converted attractive wood is sometimes used for these important Oregon natives at every to urban areas, farms, and other flooring and other wood products. It has opportunity. 22 Forests for Oregon – Spring 2007.

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