Quercus macrocarpa

Common Names

Bur Oak, Mossycup Oak, Burr Oak, Blue Oak, Scrub Oak, Mossy-Overcup Oak, Mossy-Cupped White Oak

Summary

Bur Oak is a large North American deciduous tree with a broad, rounded crown, typically 60–100 ft tall and 60–90 ft wide on good sites; it features thick gray bark that becomes deeply furrowed with age and corky ridges on young stems. Leaves are obovate to oblong, 4–12 inches long with deep lobes, and large acorns with a fringed mossy cup are produced, with fall color ranging from yellow to yellow-brown. Native to North America and hardy in USDA zones 3–8, it is highly drought-tolerant and adaptable to a wide range of soils from clay and loam to sand, acidic to alkaline, aided by a deep taproot; long-lived, commonly 200–300 years, and fire-tolerant due to thick bark.

For cultivation, plant in full sun with well-drained soil; tolerates a broad soil range and is drought-tolerant once established, though transplanting from well-drained soil is difficult because of a deep taproot. It requires ample space in parks, large landscapes, or street plantings and has practical uses as a shade tree for large spaces, windbreaks and shelterbelts, riparian buffers, and timber, with wildlife value as acorns feed birds and mammals. Maintenance is generally low, with occasional pruning; pests and diseases to monitor include oak wilt risk, leaf galls, lace bugs, and powdery mildew.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

70-80 ft

Spread

60-80 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained (mesic) soils; flood-intolerant.

Soil pH

6.0-8.0, tolerant of alkaline soils

Bloom Color

Yellow, Green, Brown

Bloom Time

Spring (April–June)

Foliage Color

Dark green; gray-green beneath; fall color yellow to brown (occasionally golden hues).

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow to yellow-brown

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow to establish; early growth slow for about 5–10 years; growth accelerates once root system is established.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seed propagation is the most common; propagation methods include seeds and cuttings (hardwood cuttings in autumn), and vegetative sprouting from stumps or roots after fire or cutting

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds, Attracts butterflies