Valley Oak

Valley Oak (Quercus lobata) is a broad deciduous oak from the Californian valleys, reaching about 12m tall and 10m wide in an Australian garden. Its value is the shape: a low branching, spreading crown that throws deep shade in summer, then drops its leaves to let winter sun back onto the house. Frost hardy, heat tolerant and drought tolerant, it is a tree for acreage and generous blocks.

Why you'll love it

• A crown as wide as it is tall. The spreading habit gives a genuinely usable shaded area beneath, unlike upright trees of similar height.
• Autumn colour. The lobed leaves turn warm gold and russet before dropping, holding colour for several weeks in cooler districts.
• It brings in the birds. Mature oaks carry the insect life small birds feed on, and the summer canopy gives them cover.
• Tough once established. It handles frost, heat, wind and long dry periods, which is why it suits Mediterranean and inland temperate gardens as well as coastal ones.

Where it works best

Shade tree on acreage. Give it at least 12m of clear space in every direction. Planted over a lawn or entertaining area it becomes the coolest spot on the property by January.

Driveways and avenues. Space trees 10m to 12m apart along a drive. Closer and the crowns compete, forcing them upward and losing the spreading form.

Growing Valley Oak in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open ground. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and is genuinely frost hardy, so cold inland districts and the tablelands are well within range. It is not a tree for the humid tropics or subtropics.

Soil. Deep, free draining soil gives the best growth, though it manages on heavier ground provided water moves away. Dig a wide hole rather than a deep one, and keep 75mm of mulch clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers to drive the taproot down, then taper right off. Mature trees resent constant summer irrigation, so keep lawn sprinklers away from the trunk. A light complete feed in early spring is enough.

Pruning. Prune in winter while dormant. Remove crossing limbs and select a single leader early, then leave the low branching alone, since those branches produce the spreading crown.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 45L, 100L and 200L sizes. A 45L tree is a young whip needing staking for its first two years, and it is the best value if you are planting several. The 100L and 200L trees arrive with calliper and structure built, giving presence in the first season.

Deciduous trees dispatched in winter may arrive bare, which is normal and not a fault. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, delivered Australia wide with delivery from $29.95. Growth is slow but steady, at around 30 to 50cm a year once the roots are away. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Evergreen or deciduous: choosing the right tree
• Browse the deciduous tree range
• Trees and plants for autumn colour
• The best canopy trees to create shade

Common questions

How much space does it need?

Allow 12m clear in every direction. The spreading crown is the whole point of this oak, so a cramped position wastes the tree.

Is it safe around pets and livestock?

No. Oak leaves and acorns are not safe for dogs, horses or cattle to chew, and quantities can cause serious illness in stock. Fence young trees on grazing land and rake acorns where dogs use the lawn.

Will it cope with a hot dry summer?

Yes, once established. It comes from a summer dry climate, so it handles inland heat better than most deciduous shade trees. Water it through the first two summers regardless.