Quercus macrocarpa
Common name: Bur Oak
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, growing 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. It 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.
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Plant Details
Plant type
Trees
Soil type
Dry Mesic, Mesic (Not too Wet Not too Dry), Moist Mesic
Light exposure
Full Sun
Bloom period
Spring
Urban environment
Uncompacted Urban Soils, Compacted/New Construction Soils, Road-side/Salt Tolerant
Habitat
Floodplain, Moist Woods, Prairie Grasslands, Sandy Soils, Savannas, Woodlands
Growth form
Single trunk
Growth rate
Fast
Flower color
Yellowish Catkin
Fall color
Yellow
Size
- Mature height
- 50 Feet
- Mature width
- 50 Feet
- Max height
- 1 080 Inches
- Max width
- 1 080 Inches
Additional information
Butterfly host plant Loved by birds