RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Quercus (pacifica)

Michael Herrera
Nursery Manager
Catalina Island Conservancy
PO Box 2739
Avalon, California 90704
(310) 510-2904
(310) 510-3157 (fax)
mherrera@catalinaconservancy.org
www.catalinaconservancy.org

Family Scientific Name: Fagaceae
Family Common Name: Oak Family
Scientific Name: Quercus pacifica Nixon & C.H. Muller
Common Name: Channel Island Scrub Oak
Species Code: QUEPAC
Ecotype: Catalina Island, California
General Distribution: Channel Island scrub oak is endemic to the Channel islands. It inhabits chaparral and oak woodlands.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: #1 Treepot
Time To Grow: 1 Years
Target Specifications: Height: N/A<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm root plug in container.
Propagule Collection: Acorns are hand collected when they are fully matured. We have collected acorns from late May to June. August and September are optimum for collection. Mature acorns are tannish-brown and easily separate from the caps.
Propagule Processing: We clean acorns from any large debris after collection. The white oaks must be kept moist during collection and processing and cannot be dry stored.
We immediately place collection in water to separate floaters from sinkers.
Pre-Planting Treatments: We place moist sinkers in ziplock bags and moist medium into cold, moist stratification at 40 F for 60 to 90 days.
We hydrate acorns in water for 48 hours just prior to sowing.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
The James H. Ackerman Native Plant Nursery is located on Catalina Island off the coast of southern California. From 1993 to 2004, the average maximum and minimum temperatures have been 75.4 F and 46 F, with an average of 361 frost free days per year and annual rainfall of 14 inches.
The facility is comprised of shade houses, mist propagation house, and an outdoor growing area. All propagation environments are utilized at different stages of seedling growth to provide for the variance in temperature and shading requirements needed during the growing season. We irrigate all containers with an overhead emitter system in the shadehouses and use a drip system or hand water in the outdoor nursery.
Establishment Phase: Seeds are germinated during late January in a shadehouse were they remain for several weeks. Seeds are directly sown into #1 Treepots (173 cubic inches) filled with 4:1:1 (v:v:v) peat, perlite, and organic compost. We incorporate Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 month release rate) (14 N:14P2O5:14K2O) at the rate of « cup per 0.75 cubic yard of medium. Seeded containers are watered with an overhead emitter system as needed.
Seeds germinate 2 to 4 weeks after sowing.
Length of Establishment Phase: 1 to 2 months
Active Growth Phase: Following establishment, seedlings are moved to another shadehouse with more temperature variance where they remain for several weeks.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 8 months
Hardening Phase: Any nursery stock grown under shadehouse conditions are hardened by placing them in full sun exposure for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to outplanting.
Length of Hardening Phase: 2 to 4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Containerized seedlings are over wintered directly in the open growing area.
Length of Storage: Variable; depends on out planting date.

Citation:

Serrill, Doug; Herrera, Mike; Takara, Janet. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Quercus pacifica Nixon & C.H. Muller plants #1 Treepot; Catalina Island Conservancy Avalon, California. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/01). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.