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Oregon white oak
Habit (mature) · Chris Light / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Limited coverage
Oregon white oak
Quercus garryana
The only native oak of British Columbia and Washington and the principal oak of Oregon — a slow-growing, deeply tap-rooted deciduous tree with deeply lobed, rounded-lobe glossy leaves and a broad, rugged, rounded crown. It is the keystone of the Pacific Northwest oak savanna, providing acorns and cover for deer, small mammals, and birds. Notably drought-adapted: it wants dry summer soil and resents irrigation.
Native: CA, OR, WA, BC
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: moderate (42/100)
Focal point
Structure
Light
Full sun / Part shade
Water
Low water
Mature size
480-1080" tall · 360" apart
Hardy in zones
6a-9b
cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Warm
cool to warm summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
No
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A documented larval host for the Polyphemus moth — caterpillars feed on its foliage before becoming the next generation.
Wildlife relationships
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/oregon-white-oak
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database
Botanical research database
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 4.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Oregon State University Landscape Plants
Botanical research database
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
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