Gambel Oak, Rocky Mountain White Oak

ineedacupoftea,
There are quite a few other species of oaks that are native to Colorado besides Quercus gambelii, according...Read More to USDA Plants:
Quercus ajoensis, Q. grisea, Q. havardii, Q. xpauciloba, and Q. turbinella.

I acquired min Gambel Oak at the springs preserve during one of their plant sales. I have had mine in my yard for a while now and no prob...Read Morelems so far. It doesn't seem to mind the heat and is taking full sun

This is the only oak one will find growing wild in Colorado. We call it "Scrub Oak," and it grows at intermediate mountain altitudes, be...Read Moretween the valleys and the mountain tops, which are dominated by conifers and aspen. Its acorns are an indespensable food source for some wildlife.

Extremely drought tolerant with immeasurable taproots, these can grow back from the bases if cut down and are of a natural habit of a very large, dense shrub, branching near the ground.

In a garden setting, these must be pruned to make more tree-like specimens. Stress to the tree can result in blueing of leaves, mites, or suckering. These are not problems in established plants. Container grown specimens must be treated kindly until they re-develop taproots, and growing them from fall-sown seed can be suprisingly rapid and rewarding. (The taproot is left to it's own devices)

A person can see when the tree has hit the water table, as its annual growth becomes quite spectacular, and is from then on bomb-proof.

Strongly suggested as a Xeric plant with those attractive classic Oak-shaped leaves.