Bur Oak

Description

Cultural Information:  

Burs transplant easily and grow well from containers.  They are at home on floodplains and in the middle of farm fields. Moist soils promote better growth but even ones planted in uplands grow well.  See below!

Associated Species: ^[6]

Red Maple, Silver Maple, Swamp White Oak, Sycamore, Northern Red Oak, Black Oak, Scarlet Oak, Bitternut Hickory, Sumacs, and Witch-hazel.

Field Observations:

This is one of the best trees we grow and it’s not just because it gets so big so fast.  The large fiddle shaped leaves are 12″ long even on 2 year old seedlings and are a delight to behold.  If you’re looking for trees that multiseason interest than you’ve hit the jackpot with this species.  Leaves emerge in the Spring with a light bronzy color accompanied by a thick straight leader.  During the second year the bark has already begun to develop the characteristic corky ridges and rich brown color.  Fall color is a dull brown but that ridged bark is beautiful in the winter.  Growth can be extremely fast.  One customer called several years ago and asked if it was normal for the tree to grow 30″ in one summer.  That was in late July.  She called in September and said the tree had grown 62″ in one year.  This was with no fertilizer but she did say the soil was well prepared prior to planting.  We’ve had similar results here in the nursery with field planted trees but we do fertilize them occasionally.  In five years we have bur oaks thicker than baseball bats at the base.  Along Route 42 south of Plain City, Ohio the Burs and Swamp Whites are huge and majestic.  Limbs are stout and massive forming a broad round head.  For miles they dot the landscape as far as the eye can see.