Blue oak
Quercus douglasii

Family: Fagaceae

What it is like

A large shrub or tree. It grows 21 m high and spreads 6 m wide. It loses its leaves during the year. It has a rounded crown. The bark is thin, grey and scaly. The leaves are bluish and have lobes along the edges. The fruit are cone shaped acorns. They are small and in a shallow hairy cup. The acorns are 2-3 cm long.

There are about 600 Quercus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. Kyneton Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 6-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The acorns are ground into a meal, and used to make soup, bread or biscuits. They are also dried, pounded and leached. They are stored for later use.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Quercus douglasii var. ransomii (Kellogg) Beissn; Quercus gambelii Liebm.; Quercus oblongifolia var. brevilobata Torr.; Quercus ransomii Kellogg;