Habitat

• Bur oak is native to the eastern and central United States, where it thrives in calcareous, alkaline soils. The remarkably drought-tolerant tree is often found in limestone soils, as well as dry sandy plains and loamy slopes with sun coming from the south or the west. The tree may also be found in moist bottomlands. Bur oak is associated with many other types of trees, including sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), red maple (Acer rubrum) and white oak (Quercus alba).
  
  

Culture

• As a landscape plant, bur oak is hardy to USDA zone 3. The tree will grow in rich, well-draining soils. The tree does best when grown in a bright, full-sun location. One of the toughest oak varieties, bur oak is not susceptible to any serious pest problems. The tree may be transplanted from a container or propagated by seed. The tree's high tolerance of drought has led to its use as a street tree.
  
  

Hybrids

• The bur oak hybridizes naturally with nine other species of oak trees, including white oak, live oak (Quercus virginiana) and Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii). Clemons (Quercus x macdanielli "Clemons") is a commercial hybrid created from the English oak (Quercus robur) that is characterized by faster than usual growth, dark green foliage and a broad, oval habit that may be up to 50 feet wide. The hybrid boasts strong resistance to leaf-deforming mildew and wind damage.
  
  

Features

• The acorns of the bur oak provide valuable forage for wildlife such as red squirrels, wood ducks, white-tailed deer and rabbits. The valuable timber of the tree is commonly sold commercially, usually under the title of white oak. Bur oak can handle extended periods of drought as well as temperatures as low as -38 degrees F. The tree offers additional ornamental value in the fall, when its leaves turn golden yellow.