Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Friesen5000
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Quercus
- Species:
- Quercus macrocarpa
- USDA Symbol:
- QUMA2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 2400 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★★ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acronicta albarufa, Aholibah Underwing (Catocala aholibah), American Dagger Moth (Acronicta americana), Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), Bucculatrix recognita, Cameraria bethunella, Cameraria macrocarpella, Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidoides), Cosmia calami, Cucullia lucifuga, Delilah underwing (Catocala delilah), Dichomeris ligulella, Distinct Lichen Moth (Achatia distincta), Epinotia criddleana, faded gray (Stenoporpia polygrammaria), Filbertworm (Cydia latiferreana), Girlfriend Underwing (Catocala amica), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), hibiscus Quaker (Orthosia hibisci), Hyperstrotia pervertens, Ilia Underwing (Catocala ilia), Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Io moth (Automeris io), Laugher (Charadra deridens), Little nymph underwing (Catocala micronympha), Lobel's dagger moth (Acronicta lobeliae), Manitoba oakworm moth (Anisota manitobensis), maple leaf blotch miner (Cameraria platanoidiella), maple-basswood leafroller (Sparganothis pettitana), Morrisonia evicta, Nacophora quernaria, Nola ovilla, Norman's Quaker (Crocigrapha normani), oak leaf blotch miner (Cameraria hamadryadella), Oblique Heterocampa (Heterocampa obliqua), One-spotted variant moth (Hypagyrtis unipunctata), Ophelia Underwing (Catocala ophelia), Orange-tipped oakworm moth (Anisota senatoria), Orthosia revicta, Phyllonorycter aeriferella, Phyllonorycter albanotella, Phyllonorycter basistrigella, Phyllonorycter fitchella, Phyllonorycter sp., Pink-striped oakworm moth (Anisota virginiensis), Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Porcelain Gray (Protoboarmia porcelaria), Scarlet Underwing (Catocala coccinata), signate melanolophia moth (Melanolophia signataria), Slosser's buckmoth (Hemileuca slosseri), Spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata), tawny brown carpet moth (Anacamptodes ephyraria), three-lined leafroller (Pandemis limitata), tiger moth (Malacosoma tigris), ugly-nest caterpillar moth (Archips cerasivorana), Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth (Lochmaeus manteo), Verrill's underwing (Catocala verrilliana), White-headed Symmerista (Symmerista albifrons), Xanthia sp., Yellownecked caterpillar (Datana ministra), Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Edwards' hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Moths:Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), common oak moth (Phoberia atomaris), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Lobel's dagger moth (Acronicta lobeliae), Neurobathra strigifinitella, Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Schizura ipomaeae, Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth (Lochmaeus manteo), White-dotted Prominent (Nadata gibbosa)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, squirrels, deer, small mammals
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow, brown
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Thick corky bark provides excellent fire resistance; resprouts vigorously from root crown after top-kill. Historically maintained by prairie fires.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Adaptable to various soil types including clay and sandy soils.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Acorns have no dormancy and can germinate immediately in fall if planted fresh; cold stratification improves spring germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Acorns should be soaked in clean water for 24 hours, then placed in cold, moist stratification for 60 to 170 days at 34 to 37°F. Only use acorns that sink in water. Some seed sources may germinate with little or no chilling.
Establishment: Acorns are collected in the late summer or early fall as soon as they mature. They fall to the ground quickly after ripening and are favored by several animals necessitating frequent inspection to prevent loss. Curculio species losses are high in Great Plains sources so it is often necessary to over-collect to meet target production. Curculio damaged and poorly filled seed can be removed by flotation in water. Seed sources vary from local people within a 50 mile radius of the nursery to specific locations such as Turtle Mountains, ND.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Repeated cycles of 4C then 20C, 3 months each. Very prolonged.