Great plant for heavy soils, very drought tolerant and fast growing. Illinois is the prairie state and Bur Oak is the prairie oak. Very tolerant of heavy clay soil, high pH, and open areas. Bur Oak is bimodal, meaning it grows in the uplands as well as the bottomlands. This indicates it is a very adaptable tree. Bur seems to prefer heavier soils to sandy ones, but it definitely needs full sun. One of the fastest growing oaks in our nursery, growing as much as 30 inches per year as a rule. Very asymmetrical in youth, while the rest of the oaks tend to be symmetrical, but becomes more symmetrical as it matures. Bark is deeply furrowed and dark brown. The bark, in combination with the massive branches, makes a very spectacular winter statement.

Environment:  Xeric  Dry/Mesic  Mesic  Wet/Mesic  Hydric

Exposure:  Shade  Part Shade  Morning Sun  Full Sun

Bloom Period:  Spring  Summer  Fall