Folio № 28 of 36 · in the garden since 2023
Canyon Live Oak
Quercus chrysolepis
Dense, slow-growing evergreen oak with leathery leaves and rugged bark; tolerates dry heat and adapts well to bonsai.
The year, as this species lives it
Thirteen phases. Touch any arc — the wheel remembers what each season asks.
Early Fall · Sep 1 – Sep 30 · happening now
- Reduce frequency slightly as temps drop. Maintain even moisture.
- Apply final round of low-nitrogen fertilizer to promote hardening.
- Structural pruning can begin again as sap flow slows.
- Wire lignified summer growth. Tree enters setting phase.
- Clean up leaf debris and monitor for fungal pathogens.
- Remove shade cloths entirely.
- Seal cuts to avoid fungal ingress.
- Can resume carving with care.
- Take semi-hardwood cuttings if temperatures allow.
- Reassess silhouette for refinement.
- Display may resume briefly with autumn color if present.
click another arc to travel the year →
The care sheet
The constants — what stays true in every season.
Full sun
Sunlight essential to reduce internode length.
Moderate
Let soil surface dry slightly between watering.
Balanced
Light feeding in early spring and midsummer.
Structural in early spring, maintenance after flowering
Responsive to hard pruning; control apical growth.
Spring or Autumn
Wire early; bark scars easily and heals slowly.
Every 2-3 years
Repot in spring; use well-drained soil with some grit.
Cuttings or seed
Can be grown from acorns or air layered.
Very cold hardy; protect container roots in deep freeze.
Tolerant once established; reduce water in extreme heat.
On the bench · 1
Every Canyon Live Oak in the garden, oldest hands first.
