What is tan oak used for?

Common Uses: Veneer, flooring, railroad cross-ties, and furniture. Comments: Tanoak is close to true oak in both appearance and workability, though it’s not in the Quercus genus.

Is a tan oak a real oak?

Tanoak trees (Lithocarpus densiflorus syn. Notholithocarpus densiflorus), also called tanbark trees, are not true oaks like white oaks, golden oaks, or red oaks. Rather, they are close relatives of the oak, which relationship explains their common name.

How long do tan oaks live?

Tanoak reaches a maximum age of about 400 years [109]. Overstory conifers are usually older than subcanopy tanoaks.

How fast do tan oaks grow?

1 to 2 ft per year
Top height on mature trees of at least 80 ft, up to 150 ft on the best tanoak sites. Sustained height growth of 1 to 2 ft per year from age 5 to 20 years. Continuing diameter growth on mature trees.

Is Tan oak good firewood?

Never burn tanoak or any of the “red” oaks, he says. The bonus is that the white group is the densest of the California oaks and burns twice as long as the others.

Are tan oaks native to California?

Notholithocarpus densiflorus, commonly known as the tanoak or tanbark-oak, is a broadleaf tree in the family Fagaceae, and the type species of the genus Notholithocarpus. It is native to the far western United States, particularly Oregon and California.

What does a tan oak tree look like?

What looks like an oak, has acorns like an oak, but isn’t an oak? That would be tanoak, Lithocarpus densiflorus, a west coast native. This evergreen tree is also known as tanbark-oak. It has flowers like a chestnut but forms acorns rather than having its nuts enclosed by a spiny bur.

What does tan oak look like?

Is Tanoak good firewood?

He concluded that “tanoak can be an excellent choice for high-quality furniture or flooring.” The yield from tanoak logs studied, he found, was similar to that of eastern hardwood species, with a significantly higher yield from wood that had been air-dried for six months before being dried again in a kiln.

Is a tanoak a type of oak?

Tanoak trees (Lithocarpus densiflorus syn. Notholithocarpus densiflorus), also called tanbark trees, are not true oaks like white oaks, golden oaks or red oaks. Rather, they are close relatives of the oak, which relationship explains their common name. Like oak trees, the tanoak bears acorns that are eaten by wildlife.

What is the lifespan of a tanoak?

Tanoaks may live at least 250 years, although age can be difficult to determine. In dense forest stands, tanoaks develop narrow crowns with ascending branches on single, straight stems that are clear for 30 to 80 ft. In open stands, tanoaks often have broad crowns with large horizontal branches on short, forked boles.

Does tanoak stain?

Tanoak can stain if certain metals contact the wet wood; contact with iron can produce a pronounced blue-black discoloration. Molds and bacterial stains will develop if air circulation around the wet lumber is inadequate.

Why is tanoak considered a persistent species?

Tanoak is a persistent, versatile species capable of maintaining a substantial component at any successional stage in many forest types. While tanoak is considered to be a climax species capable of reproducing in undisturbed forests, it is also well-adapted to disturbance. It sprouts vigorously after fire or cutting and often dominates large areas.