# Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

> A massive, long-lived white oak with huge leaves, thick corky bark and golf-ball-sized acorns in fringed cups. It grows faster than its reputation suggests and tolerates lime soils, drought, heat and urban pollution. Give it room: it can exceed 70 feet tall and wide.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/quercus-macrocarpa · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Also called: Burr oak, Mossycup oak
- Family: Fagaceae
- Type: Broadleaf, loses its leaves in winter
- Mature height: 22 m; spread 18 m
- Growth: Medium growth; lives about 300 years
- USDA hardiness zones: 3 to 8
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Low water
- Soil: Deep soils preferred; tolerates clay, limestone, caliche and alkaline conditions better than most oaks
- Native range: Central and eastern North America from Saskatchewan and New Brunswick south to Texas

**Benefits:** Shade, Wildlife, Birds, Drought tolerant, Long lived, Storm resistant, Stores carbon well

**Good for:** Street tree, Yard shade, parks

**Watch out for:** Large roots, Messy fruit

## Care

Needs deep soil and a big open space; avoid planting over shallow rock or near foundations. Water deeply during the first two summers and in extended drought afterward. Resistant to oak wilt, so pruning timing is less critical, but keep construction and trenching out of the root zone. Acorns are large and can be a nuisance on patios and sidewalks.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** United States (Also native in: CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SD, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY (USDA PLANTS distribution)); AL, United States; AR, United States; LA, United States; MS, United States; NM, United States; OK, United States; TN, United States; TX, United States
- **Recommended:** Calgary, AB, Canada (On the City of Calgary Top Tree Species for Calgary list); Toronto, ON, Canada (On the City of Toronto Species Planted on Streets list); Sacramento, CA, United States (On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list); San Jose, CA, United States (On the Our City Forest Community Nursery tree species list); Denver, CO, United States (On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree List); Washington, DC, United States (On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list); Boston, MA, United States (On the City of Boston Urban Forestry Division recommended public street trees list); Austin, TX, United States (On the City of Austin Grow Green native and adapted plant list (Watershed Protection). Listed as 'Oak, Bur'; very low water needs, provide plenty of space and deep soil.); Dallas, TX, United States (On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List); Houston, TX, United States (On the City of Houston Planning and Development Department Street Tree List)

## Sources

- https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/QUMA2
- https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=QUMA2
- https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-macrocarpa/
- https://www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/plant-guide/oak-bur
- https://www.treefolks.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/NeighborWoodsTreeMenu-2026.pdf
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/quemac/all.html