coast live oak no. 7

Quercus agrifolia

Height 28" Width 34"

Sculpted by time and climate, this tree stands as a powerful embodiment of the Pacific coastline’s rugged endurance. With an estimated age between 60–100 years, its character has been forged in sun, salt, and wind—bearing the hallmarks of a species that thrives in one of North America’s most complex coastal ecologies.

Collected by Zack Shimon, this tree carries both wild provenance and refined intention. The design draws on natural tenacity—tight ramification, muscular taper, and bark fissures that speak to a century of survival. Planted in a Sara Rayner container, the composition reflects a synergy between maker, material, and environment.

As a large bonsai, it commands space—both visually and horticulturally. Its sprawling canopy balances mass and movement, evoking the wide, wind-swept silhouettes seen dotting California's hillsides. This tree is a living archive of place and process, inviting us to see native species not as limitations, but as expansive creative opportunities in the art of bonsai.