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Health & Fitness

Acorn Season

Barbara Eisenstein, Contributor, Neighbor
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I am collecting acorns from Engelmann oaks here in South Pasadena. Engelmanns, also known as Pasadena or mesa oaks, are not only rare and unusual, but magnificent as well. When mature they have a broad crown with spreading, horizontal branches so massive that it is hard to imagine how they can hold themselves up.

It is believed that these amazing trees once occupied a range from the Pacific Ocean in southern California east to Arizona. Uplift and subsequent drying that resulted in the formation of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts left remnant populations of these trees in the counties of  San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange. If you have not been to the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve in Riverside County you are missing something very, very special! I visited about a year ago and was so taken that I posted some pictures on this blog. There is also an unusual collection of Engelmann oaks at the LA Arboretum.

The Engelmann oak may be the rarest, most at-risk oak due to its limited range and the fact that this range is located in such a high population area. Here in South Pasadena there are quite a few old Engelmanns that pre-date development. It seems that each year a few more die, possibly due to landscaping practices, drought or other adverse conditions. These oaks are usually growing in someone's lawn or garden, but unlike the coast live oak, these seedlings rarely take hold to replace the mature Engelmann oaks.

The Arroyo Seco Foundation and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden collect and propagate acorns from these vulnerable oaks. I have collected from South Pas's trees and brought bags of acorns to both organizations, as I will again this year.

For more information on our wonderful and unique oak, check out the following links:

Better yet, walk the streets of South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Pasadena and Alhambra looking for these  extraordinary giants. Collect some acorns and try sprouting them yourself. The acorns must be sprouted immediately, though you can keep them for a short time in the refrigerator. Place them on the top of the soil, either in a deep pot or in the garden, with a light covering of soil. Acorns from Engelmann oaks do not have to be buried, though they should be kept moist as they start growing. Many seedlings and saplings are lost either from lack of moisture or predation by rodents, so you may have more success starting them in a container. The container must be deep since they do put down a deep tap root after germinating.










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