Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
Pickup currently unavailable at Aiken Nursery
Quercus agrifolia, the coast live oak, is the evergreen oak of the California coast, the gnarled, dark-canopied tree that shades the golden hills of Steinbeck country and spreads heavy limbs over ranchland and canyon. The holly-like leaves are small, thick, and leathery, glossy dark green above with a spiny-toothed edge, and the tree holds them year round, casting the deep, cool shade that is the plant's signature. Left room, coast live oak builds a broad, low, romantically crooked crown.
Few trees have fed more people. For thousands of years the acorns of the coast live oak were a staple food for the Indigenous peoples of California, gathered in autumn, dried, ground, and leached of their bitter tannins to make meal and porridge, and the tree remains a keystone of the local ecosystem, the acorns and evergreen shelter sustaining woodpeckers, jays, deer, and a long list of insects. The name agrifolia, meaning sharp-leaved or field-leaved, points to that holly-like foliage.
This is a western tree in an eastern nursery, and that is part of the story. Coast live oak is seldom grown east of El Paso, but Woodlanders raised these plants from seed of trees planted in El Paso, Texas, and they have grown well in South Carolina on sunny, sharply drained sites, the kind of conditions many California and southwestern plants insist on. A few of the plants belong to the southern California variety oxydenia, though they do not look clearly distinct. Photos courtesy of Oaktopia.
In the garden, give coast live oak the open, hot, well-drained position it wants: a specimen lawn, a dry native or Mediterranean-style planting, or a courtyard tree for a warm-climate garden, with room for the wide, spreading canopy to develop. Give full sun, sharp drainage, and little or no summer water once established, since soggy summer soil invites root disease. Pair with manzanita, ceanothus, sages, and other drought-tolerant companions, and keep thirsty, shallow-rooted plantings out from under the canopy, where the roots resent the competition and the water.
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 8–10
- Sun
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Soil
- Well-drained
- Mature size
- Height 30–70 Feet · Spread 30–60 Feet
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Seasonality
- Evergreen
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.
Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.
Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
What is your return policy?
Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
What payment methods can I use?
We offer 35 different payment methods including major providers like Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, American Express and Diners as well as many different local payment methods including Klarna, iDEAL, AliPay, Sofort, giropay, and many more.
Can I make changes to my order after it’s been placed?
At Woodlanders, we strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can only accommodate changes to your order within the first 24 hours after it has been placed. These changes include adding or removing products and modifying the delivery address. If you need to make any changes or if there has been a mistake with your order information, please reach out to us promptly via our CONTACT page with your order number for the quickest resolution.
Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.