Cutleaf Tanoak Tree
The cutleaf tanoak is a mutant form of the tanoak with the most incredible finely toothed leaves that give a very pleasing and distinct texture to this evergreen tree. Discovered in Yuba County, California in the early 1960s, this beauty has proven hard to come by given its difficulty of propagation, but we’ve succeeded in getting cuttings of it to root. Treat like a typical tanoak giving it good drainage in full sun, though we’ve seen it thrive in a good bit of shade too, and water until established.
Latin Name: Notholithocarpus densiflorus f. attenuato dentatus
Site and Soil: the Cutleaf Tanoak needs 1/2 day to full sun and well-drained soil.
Hardiness: Hardy to at least 0F
Bearing Age: 3-5 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 20-40 ft. in height
Bloom Time: May-June
Ripening Time: August
Yield: 30+ lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Notholithocarpus are susceptible to Sudden Oak Death, a fungal disease that can kill entire stands of oaks, though we’ve not seen it yet in our area.
USDA Zone: likely Zone 6