How fast does a bur oak grow?

It is a slow to moderate grower, typically adding 30 to 60 centimeters per year.

Do I need to water it often?

Once established, it is quite drought tolerant and rarely needs supplemental watering.

Plant guide

Bur oak.

Quercus macrocarpa

Pronounced KWER-kus mak-ro-KAR-pa

Also known as blue oak, bur oak, burr oak, mossy-cup oak

The bur oak is a majestic, long lived native tree known for its impressive size and rugged bark. It is highly valued for its ability to withstand harsh conditions and its importance to local wildlife. You will find it makes a fantastic shade tree for large landscapes.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Deciduous tree
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 80 to 100 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 8
Bloom time: Mid to late spring

Care

Plant this tree in a location with plenty of space to accommodate its massive root system and canopy. Keep an eye out for leaf spots or wilting branches, which might signal environmental stress. It is quite hardy once established, so you won't need to fuss over it much.

Watering: Young trees need regular moisture to establish, but mature specimens are quite drought tolerant.
Feeding: Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring if the tree shows signs of nutrient deficiency.
Pruning: Prune only to remove dead or damaged branches during the dormant winter season.
Repotting: This species is a large tree and is not suitable for container cultivation.
Soil: Well draining, loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -40 to 35°C
Humidity: 30 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 200 to 400 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Safety

People: The leaves and acorns contain tannins which can cause digestive upset if ingested in large quantities.
Children: The large, heavy acorns can be a choking hazard for small children.
Contact allergens: The rough bark can cause minor skin abrasions, but it is not a primary contact irritant.
Airborne allergens: The windborne pollen is a significant allergen for many people during the spring.
Edibility: Acorns contain tannins that must be leached thoroughly before they are safe for human consumption.

How to identify it

Deeply furrowed, corky bark
Large, rounded, lobed leaves
Acorns with fringed, mossy caps
Broad, spreading canopy

Height: 15 to 30m
Spread: 15 to 25m
Leaves: dark green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow green, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Oak Wilt · A serious fungal disease that blocks the tree's water transport system.
Bur Oak Blight · A fungal infection causing leaf scorch and premature leaf drop.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your bur oak from a photo

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: Spring, Autumn
Overwintering: No special winter care is needed as this tree is fully hardy in its native range. Ensure the soil is well drained to prevent root rot during the spring thaw.
In containers: It is not suitable for long term container growth due to its massive size and deep taproot.

Seed

1. Collect fresh acorns in autumn as soon as they fall.
2. Float test the acorns and discard any that float.
3. Plant immediately in a deep pot or directly in the ground.
4. Protect the seeds from squirrels and rodents.

Plant species that prefer full sun and can handle the dry soil conditions often found beneath a mature oak canopy.

Grows well with

Little Bluestem · This native grass thrives in the same sunny, open conditions as the bur oak.
Purple Coneflower · It provides beautiful color and attracts pollinators to the base of the tree.

Similar species

White Oak · It is a related species with similar ecological roles but smaller acorns.

Science

Family: Fagaceae
Genus: Quercus
Order: Fagales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Central and eastern North America.
Conservation: It is not currently listed as endangered, though it faces habitat loss in parts of its range.

It thrives in open prairies and savannas where its fire resistant bark allows it to persist in fire prone landscapes.

Value to wildlife: larval host plant, food source for mammals, nesting site
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: shade tree, wildlife habitat, timber, ornamental specimen

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How fast does a bur oak grow?: It is a slow to moderate grower, typically adding 30 to 60 centimeters per year.
Do I need to water it often?: Once established, it is quite drought tolerant and rarely needs supplemental watering.

Where the name comes from

The specific epithet macrocarpa comes from Greek words meaning large fruit, referring to its exceptionally large acorns.

Good to know

The bur oak is one of the most drought tolerant of the white oaks.
The name refers to the fringed, mossy appearance of the acorn cap.
These trees can live for over 300 years in ideal conditions.
It is a keystone species in oak savanna ecosystems.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.