San Andreas cork tree a long way from home

The cork oak tree in Diane Heliotes’ front yard traveled thousands of miles from Europe to San Andreas, but its history remains a mystery.

The tree was planted either as an acorn or seedling in the late 1800s, said Heliotes, president of the Calaveras County Genealogical Society.

A since-deceased sister tree was planted in Campo Seco, a long-abandoned mining town north of Valley Springs, in 1858. 

According to California Historical Landmark 257 at Campo Seco, that tree was once “the largest living cork oak in California.”

Cork oaks are medium-size evergreens that can grow up to 80 feet tall. Their bark is the source of corks used in  wine bottles.

Portugal has 33 percent of the world’s cork oaks, and 60 percent of international cork trade derives from Portugal.

The Calaveras County trees were brought to California from Spain by a man only identified as “Mackie,” Heliotes said. A third tree was planted in Heliotes’ yard but removed some years ago by previous owners, she said.
 

Heliotes has scoured records from Calaveras County and the U.S. Census Bureau for Mackie, trying to glean clues to the origins of the trees. Cork oaks are native to Mediterranean climates like those in Portugal, Spain and North Africa.

The only firm evidence about him she has is a newspaper clipping from an 1859 Calaveras Chronicle that says Mackie was “enamored” of the trees and had brought them from Spain.

“There’s really no good information on it,” Heliotes said. “We can’t find him anywhere.”

Heliotes said she would like to check ship passages from Spain and Portugal during that time.

The tree in Campo Seco died because its bark was removed too often, Heliotes said. It was planted in front of one of the town’s two Chinese stores.

Portuguese cork harvesters strip the bark in nine-year intervals — about 16 times over a cork oak’s life, which can span 150 to 200 years.

Campo Seco was founded in 1849 by Mexicans and was considered cosmopolitan because it had about 40 different nationalities of miners.

Heliotes’ house on California Street in San Andreas was built in 1861 by Peter Moro, a Dutch immigrant, and is one of the oldest homes in San Andreas, according to Calaveras County Museum records.

 Students attending San Andreas Elementary School up the street make annual visits to the tree on field trips, Heliotes said.

“They get to bring little pieces of cork home,” she said.

In the early 1900s, in 1910 and in the 1920s, people tried to graft the cork in Heliotes’ yard, but without success, she said.

The towering cork oak hangs over California Street and drops green pollen along the road when it flowers.

“It’s regal and massive,” Heliotes said.

Though cork oaks are not native to California, but the trees in Calaveras County were not the last ones planted in the Golden State.

San Mateo has many old cork trees and original, 1903 plans for San Mateo Park included cork oak, according to the San Mateo Park Association.