Turbinella Oak Growth Spurt Coincides With Summer Monsoon

Many of you have probably noted that Turbinella Oak has a significant growth spurt that coincides with the Summer Monsoon here in New Mexico.

I have a Turbinella Oak that I water about once weekly at my home in Los Lunas. Thus far during this growing season I have noted about 6” to 8” of growth on some stem tips. With the start of the summer monsoons here nearly all stem tips have new growth with some already pushing out 8” of new growth with more coming.

The acorns of Turbinella oak also mature and fall free from the tree during the monsoon season probably to ensure the emerging young oak seedling sufficient water to begin growth.

Turbinella Oak (Quercus turbinella) is a New Mexico native tree found as close as the Sandia and Manzano mountains in central New Mexico. It is found in abundance in the foothills where the dry mesas meet the base of the mountains. It is a small evergreen oak that grows with multiple trunks reaching 12’ – 15’ tall and wide sometimes larger.

It is very heat and drought tolerant once established. For these reasons it makes an excellent alternative wind screen or visual barrier especially for those allergic to the more commonly planted junipers which produce abundant allergens in spring.

Turbinella Oak is a useful tree for New Mexico Landscapes. It is low water, heat, and drought tolerant, deep rooted, and if pruned to a single trunk can reach 20′ or more. Normally slow growing on the west facing foothills of the Central Mountain chain of New Mexico, Turbinella Oak can grow 2’ – 4’ annually with regular watering.

Turbinella Oak is best grown in well-drained soils and is hardy to USDA zone 5.

We have 5 gallon, 15 gallon, and some larger Root Control Bag Turbinella Oaks available for your landscaping needs. Come on In to Trees That Please Nursery and Check’em Out!!

Photos & Narrative By:

Stephen Sain
Staff Plant Physiologist

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