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Quercus gambelii (Gambel oak)
Flaigg, Norman G.

Quercus gambelii Nutt.

Gambel oak, Rocky Mountain white oak

Fagaceae (Beech Family)

USDA Symbol: QUGA

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A small, round-crowned tree or clump shrub, sometimes forming thickets, Gambels oak occasionally reaches 50 ft. but is usually no taller than 30 ft. Its deeply-lobed, deciduous leaves are bright green above and paler below, turning brown or sometimes red in fall. Tree with rounded crown, often in dense groves; or a thicket-forming shrub.

Gambels Oak is the common oak of the Rocky Mountains, abundant in Grand Canyon National Park. It is closely related to White Oak (Quercus alba L.) of the eastern United States. The foliage is browsed by deer and sometimes by livestock. Wild turkeys, squirrels, and other wildlife, as well as hogs and other domestic animals eat the sweetish acorns. The wood is used mainly for fenceposts and fuel. This species is named for William Gambel (1821-49), a naturalist from Philadelphia.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Class: 12-36 ft.
Breeding System: Monoecious
Fruit Type: Nut
Size Notes: 20-30
Leaf Color: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: May

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , NV , NM , OK , SD , TX , UT , WY
Native Distribution: Mts. from Carbon Co., WY & CO to s. NV, s. to Trans-Pecos TX & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry, high-elevation hills, slopes & canyons
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Rocky soils. Acid-based, Calcareous, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam Clay
Conditions Comments: Train as a tree by pruning off suckers when young. Very slow growing.
Texas comments: Gambel oak is a small, slow growing, round-crowned tree or clump shrub, sometimes forming thickets. Its deeply-lobed, deciduous leaves are bright green above and paler below, turning brown or sometimes red in fall. Train as a tree by pruning off suckers when young.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Quercus gambelii is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Colorado Hairstreak
(Hypaurotis crysalus)

Food Source
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Description: Oaks are most often propagated from seed. No pretreatment is necessary. Plant immediately – outdoors or in deep containers to accomodate long initial taproot. Many oaks require cold temperatures to initiate shoot development. Protect outdoor beds with
Seed Collection: Best quality acorns are picked or shaken from the tree. Collect when color has changed to brown. Best if sown immediately as acorns lose viability quickly in storage. Short-term storage in moist, shaded saw dust or sand. Acorns to be sown immediately can be soaked in hot water for 15 min. to prevent weevil infestation. Stored seed should be fumigated with methyl bromide.
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Prevent complete soil dryness, May be pruned 12 mo. out of the year, Prune to maintain shape, Fertilize 3 times a year with lawn fertilizer 3:1:2 ratio
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View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: I am looking to xeriscape my front yard - remove all grass! I am thinking 3-4 larger plants: bird of paradise (mesquite??), aloe, and ..?? Also, possibly a Chilean mesquite. Do you have suggestions on plants that would be appropriate/water conserving? I've seen pictures that I like, but it's tough to find plants and their Latin names on the internet, as well as cost estimates for consumers of these plants.
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Bibliography

Dale Groom's Texas Gardening Guide (2002) Groom, D.
Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Quercus gambelii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Quercus gambelii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Quercus gambelii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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