The scrub oak is native to North America. It is an intricately branched, shrubby tree belonging to the genus Quercus.
Scrub oak trees can grow to about 30 feet (6 meters) tall, as is the case of the Rocky Mountain scrub oak. The most common variety is the California scrub oak which only reaches a height of 8 feet (2.5 meters).
The scrub oak grows predominantly in arid climate zones with shallow soil. They can be found on the south-facing slopes of western hillsides for maximum exposure to the sun.
Scrub oak leaves are wedge-shaped with a downy white underside. They are deciduous and turn a russet brown during the autumn months.
Animals like squirrels, chipmunks and even depend on scrub oak acorns to supplement their food source. The scrub oak also has abundant foliage that supports many avian species like bluejays, grouse and woodpeckers.
MSNBC reports from Great Basin, Utah, that a scrub oak hybrid was recently found that could be nearly 7,000 years old.