Coast live oak

Quercus agrifolia

The signature tree of the Bay; its acorns were the staple of Ohlone and Coast Miwok tables.

Type: canopy tree · native and wild plants
Hardiness: zones 8 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 50 ft tall, 60 ft wide
Harvest: October to November
From: California coast
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.

Good for: food, wildlife.

Native to: California. Hardy in zones 8 to 10.

The story

Coast live oak acorns were the staple of the Ohlone, Coast Miwok and Chumash peoples, gathered in autumn, stored in granaries, leached in sand and pounded into mush and bread; whole landscapes were tended with fire to keep the oaks productive. The tree defines the Bay Area hills.

Planting

Full sun, drained soil, and a Mediterranean climate; no summer water once established. Plant an acorn or small seedling where it will stay; 50 feet wide eventually.

Growing

Water the first two summers, then never; summer water kills mature oaks. No pruning beyond dead wood. Leave the leaf litter.

Harvest and use

Acorns fall in autumn; shell, grind, and leach the tannin in running water or repeated soaks until no longer bitter, then cook as mush or bread.

What to watch for

Sudden oak death, summer irrigation, and the tannin if not leached.

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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home