← Bedfellow

Bur Oak

Quercus macrocarpa

Also known as: Mossycup Oak

Massive, drought- and fire-tolerant prairie oak. Largest acorns of any North American oak; thick corky bark.

Family

Fagaceae

Type

tree

Lifespan

perennial

Height

60–80 ft

Spacing

60–80 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade, shade

Soil moisture

dry, moist, wet

Soil pH

acidic, neutral

Bloom

March, April, May

Bloom colors

yellow, green, brown

Wildlife value

butterflies, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~557 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

specimen

Native states

AL, AR, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NY, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY