| Description | Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is a large, growing, tough tree. The common name comes from the warty cup of the acorn that has fringes or burs on the margin. Because of its thick bark, it could withstand the prairie fires. |
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| Plant Type | Trees Deciduous |
| Hardiness Zone | 2 |
| Sunlight | full |
| Moisture | prefers moist well drained soils but is draught tolerant. |
| Soil & Site | best in fertile loam soils, but adaptable to a wide range of soils |
| Flowers | yellow green male and reddish female catkins |
| Fruit | acorns, 1/2" by 3/4", oblong with a fringed cup |
| Leaves | simple, alternate, deeply and irregularly lobed, many times having a wide apical end, green and semi-glossy above somewhat pubescent below |
| Stems | bark becomes deeply furrowed and protects the plants from fast moving fires, twigs often with corky ridges |
| Dimensions | A large tree reaching 40-70 feet tall with a spread of 35-60 feet. |
| Propagation | acorns |
| Native Site | Native to the North American Prairies. |
| Misc Facts | The acorns were used for food but the tannins needed to be leached away with wood ashes. Many wildlife use the acorns for food. AKA: Prairie Oak, Mossy Cup Oak |
| Notes & Reference | #01-Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (Michael Dirr), #93-North American Landscape Trees (Arthur Lee Jacobson), #94-Trees of the Eastern and Central United States and Canada |
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