Several oak species thrive throughout Las Vegas Valley

Oaks in the desert? You bet. There are more that a half dozen species that have proven themselves in Southern Nevada over the last two decades. Although not native to arid regions they are surprisingly well-adapted to our harsh climate. Long-lived and relatively pest free, these remarkable trees provide a yard full of shade. And they are moderately fast growing. Let’s take a look at the best offerings.

One of the very first introductions to the valley was the holly oak (Quercus ilex). It is so named because the foliage resembles that of the toothy-leaved shrub. This evergreen tree comes from the upper Mediterranean, making it a perfect match for our climate. Plus, it is tolerant of placement in lawns, something that most oaks despise. It will eventually reach 40 or more feet in height with a pyramidal to oval crown.

The one drawback is that the trunks are prone to sunscald while in youth. Tender trunks should be wrapped or painted with white latex paint the first year or two for protection. Over time, the paint will slough off.

The venerable cork oak (Q. suber) also comes from the Mediterranean. The bark is used to produce bottle stoppers. It has dull green leaves like an olive tree. This evergreen tree prefers nonturf areas.

The Southern live oak (Q. virginiana) also has been used here for a number of years. This fast-growing tree is native to the Gulf Coast states. It is called the live oak because of its evergreen quality. Tough and durable, it will form a round-topped crown 40 to 50 feet tall. It is tolerant of lawn situations.

The escarpment oak (Q. fusiformis) looks almost identical to the live oak, however, its native range occurs in west Texas, where it is more arid and the soil more alkaline, making it right at home in our hot valley. It prefers nonturf locations.

The Heritage TM oak is a hybrid of this tree and the live oak. Also from the Lone Star State is the Texas red oak (Q. texana), which has the classic lobed leaves common to many oak species. It will turn a deep burgundy in the fall prior to leaf drop.

The chinquapin oak (Q. muhlenbergii) has long oval leaves with rippled edges that resemble potato chips. Its fall foliage turns orange to bronze. The bur oak (Q. macrocarpus) has large bass-fiddle-shaped leaves and massive acorns that appear to be covered with moss. Both are common to most of the Eastern United States. Each of the previous three trees will become 25 to 30-foot tall rounded specimens and prefer to be next to lawns rather than directly within.

The California white or valley oak (Q. lobata) is a shocking success. Not only is it tolerant of turf conditions it is a very fast grower. The tiny lobed leaves do not offer much in the way of fall color though. The large acorns are shaped like a rifle shell and would be a feast for squirrels, if we had any to feed. It may eventually hit 60 or more feet in height with a weeping branch habit.

Dennis Swartzell is the marketing director for Mountain States Wholesale Nursery. As an ISA board-certified master arborist and a member of the Southern Nevada Arborist Group, Swartzell has been helping Southern Nevadans with their gardening questions for over 25 years. If you have a question about a particular plant, or a general gardening issue, send them to Swartzell at treemender@cox.net.