Quercus grisea Liebm.

Gray oak, scrub oak, shin oak

Similar species

	Quercus gambelii	You are here Quercus grisea
Common Name	Gambel oak	gray oak
Plant	Trees are 9½–30′ (3–9 m), though in ideal conditions, they can reach double this height. The largest recorded specimen, in Arizona, is 115′ (35 m) tall. Bark is red-brown to gray.	A tree or multistemmed shrub, with trees reaching up to 66′ (20 m) in height, and a trunk up to 2′ (60 cm) in diameter.
Leaves	2½–4½ ⨉ 1½–2″ (7–12 ⨉ 4–6 cm), deeply or moderately lobed. They are obovate to oblong-obovate. Leaf stalks (petioles) are ½–¾″ (1.3–1.9 cm) long. The upper surface is glossy and dark green, while the lower surface is pale and velvety.	Alternate, leathery, ¾–3″ (2–7.6 cm) long, elliptical to ovate, and either untoothed or with a few coarse teeth. Leaves are grayish green above and felted beneath, due fine hairs. Leaves are evergreen, or drought deciduous[Glossary("[Glossary(drought deciduous)]")].
Flowers	Insignificant greenish or brownish staminate (male) or pistillate (female) catkins. Flowers appear from April to June.	Male catkins are yellowish-green. Female flowers are in small spikes in the leaf axils.
Fruit	Light brown acorns are ⅜–¾″ (1–2 cm), with ⅓ to ½ covered by a cap. They may be single or in small clusters.	Acorn cups are scaly, covering about half of each acorn. Acorns are single or paired. Each acorn is about ½″ (1.3 cm) long.
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 3-9
Habitats	At elevations of 3281–9843′ (1–3 km), on sunny hillsides with thin, rocky, alkaline soil. They appear on slopes, in canyons and foothills.	In valleys and on ridges, on rocky slopes and on the banks of streams, at elevations of 3937–8858′ (1.2–2.7 km).

Quercus grisea description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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