Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) is a magnificent tree historically prevalent in the Willamette Valley. Oak-associated habitats are culturally significant and support hundreds of plant, invertebrate, and wildlife species.
Oregon white oak is the only native oak species in British Columbia, Washington, and northern Oregon. Today, less than 10% of Willamette Valley oak woodland, savanna, and prairie habitats remain. These special habitats support a unique and rare community of wildlife that is not found in other habitats. The majority of this remaining oak habitat is in private ownership.
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- Open grown oak tree
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- Oak woodland
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- Upland praire and oak woodland
Let Us Help You Restore and Improve Your Oak Habitat
To help restore this important habitat, the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District has partnered with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide technical assistance to Clackamas County landowners to help restore or improve the oak populations.
Landowners willing to develop Oak Habitat Conservation Plans may also qualify for NRCS funding assistance for projects located within in the mapped area below which includes Canby, Mulino, Molalla and Marquam.
If You Have Oregon White Oak Trees and . . .
- Are concerned about the health of the oak trees because they are:
- Being over-topped by Douglas-fir or other faster growing tree species
- Being overtaken by invasive species, for example: Himalayan blackberry, Scotch broom, English ivy, English hawthorn, bird cherry or English holly
- Would like to plant more oak trees and/or associated native plant species on your property
- Would like to enhance the oak habitat on your property to provide for wildlife and/or pollinators
- Would like to develop a farming or grazing plan compatible with oak habitat goals
. . . our technical staff may be able to help!
For more information please contact Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District at 503-210-6000 or email Conservation Specialist Nicole Ahr.
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- Oaks, high density
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- Oak conifer competition
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- Invasive plant competition
Oak Habitat Supports Wildlife and Pollinators
Over 200 wildlife species and hundreds of insects species, including many pollinator species, are associated with Oregon white oak.
Acorns, leaves from the oak trees, and the many invertebrates that make their homes in oak trees, provide rich food resources for wildlife. Additionally, these trees provide excellent nesting, roosting, resting, perching, and denning sites for wildlife species such as raptors, woodpeckers, owls, songbirds, deer squirrels, shrews, snakes, salamanders, and frogs.
The Oregon state bird, the western meadowlark, is also associated with Oregon white oak savanna! Some of the species associated with Oregon white oak are imperiled, including the western gray squirrel and slender-billed nuthatch.
For more information, take a look at this informative Oakscaping Guide:
Oak Friendly Native Plants
The flowering and fruiting plant species associated with oak trees provide excellent food sources for pollinators and wildlife. Examples include oceanspray, mock orange, red-flowering currant, and blue elderberry. Our very own Oregon state flower, tall Oregon grape, is an oak-associated plant!
Many beautiful wildflowers are also found in oak savannas and prairies. These include camas, columbine, and goldenrod, among many others.
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- Blue elderberry
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- Red flowering currant
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- Oceanspray
