• Lifespan: With proper care, these trees can live for 200-300 years or even longer.
• Canopy Size and Spread: Reaches a mature spread of 60-100 feet, creating a massive shade canopy.
• Growth Rate: Moderate grower, adding 1-2 feet per year after establishment.
• Canopy Height: Maturity brings a height of 60-80 feet, providing ample shade for large landscapes.
• Soil Preference: Adapts to a variety of soils but thrives in well-drained, slightly acidic conditions.
• Water Needs: Moderately water-dependent, especially during the first few years after planting and during dry spells. Once established, they are moderately drought tolerant.
• Light Preference: Full sun exposure is ideal for optimal growth and canopy development.
• Hardiness Zone: Bur Oaks are hardy in USDA zones 4-8, tolerating winter temperatures as low as -30°F (-34.4°C).
• Flowers and Fruits: Inconspicuous greenish flowers appear in clusters in early spring, lasting only a short period. These are followed by large acorns with fringed caps (characteristic burs) that mature in fall.

Interesting Facts

• Champion of Champions: Bur Oaks are contenders for the title of the largest oak species in North America. Their massive size and expansive canopies inspire awe.
• The Acorns Wear Hats: A distinctive feature of the Bur Oak is its acorn. Unlike many oaks with smooth cups, the Bur Oak’s acorns have a fringed or fringed “bur” around the cap, resembling a mossy cup.
• Food Source for Native Americans: Native American tribes have historically used Bur Oak acorns as a food source, grinding them into flour. The are edible raw right from the tree and have a walnut like taste (slightly more bitter)