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Bur Oak main item image
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Bur Oak

bare-root trees
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Quercus macrocarpa

70-80' × same.

Hardiest of the white oaks with a deeply grooved massive trunk and a wide-spreading crown of huge branches. Small branches are distinctively corky, winged and tend to twist and kink. The habit is upright and somewhat vase-shaped.

Lustrous dark green foliage and large 1–2" acorns, each almost entirely enclosed in a fringed cup. These are edible and low in tannic acid; when roasted they reportedly make a decent coffee substitute.

The most urban-tolerant oak. Fairly fast growing. Needs full sun but adaptable to a wide range of soil types including clay. Native to eastern U.S. and Canada. Z3.

(2–4' bare-root trees)
ships in spring
Quick Details
Hardy to Zone
3
Compare
Compare with other Oak
Variety Product Type Hardy to Zone
White Oak bare-root trees 3
Swamp White Oak bare-root trees 3
Bur Oak bare-root trees 3
Northern Red Oak bare-root trees 4
Scarlet Oak bare-root trees 5
Additional Information

Oaks Quercus spp.

Many oaks are native to New England. They are generally divided into two groups: the reds and the whites. The reds have pointier leaves and the whites have rounder ones. Most of them make absolutely breathtaking shade trees, creating a major presence in almost any landscape and providing bountiful forage for wildlife and for humans. The strongly astringent inner bark, foliage and acorn caps are all medicinal, and acorns were an extremely important human food source for thousands of years. Contrary to much of the literature, all acorns are edible, both reds and whites. (For detailed instructions on acorn processing, see Samuel Thayer’s book, Nature’s Garden.) The tannins from a handful of oak leaves added to homemade half-sours will keep pickles crisp for months. Oaks are monoecious so you need only one to get fruit.

Shipping

Items from our perennial plants warehouse ordered on or before February 20 will ship from March through early May, starting with warmer areas and finishing in colder areas.

Orders placed after February 20 will ship from April to May.