Coast live oak, an evergreen tree and keystone species, is one of the most important wildlife plants in the coastal ecosystem. It’s a tree native to California growing from Mendocino County to the north to Baja California to the south and generally within 65 miles of the coast. It’s growth is highly variable from 30 to 80 feet tall, depending on its access to water. They can live over 250 years. Their habitat importance can’t be overstated, they are the dominant overstory species that have evolved to weather droughts, fires and in heavy rains they are important in hill stabilization. They not only produce acorns for mammals and birds they host hundreds of insects including up to 123 butterflies and moths.
