NICE! Plant of the Month
(Quercus macrocarpa)
Description:
Bur Oak can become a huge tree reaching up to 80 ft. tall under optimal conditions. However, in the hill Country its mature size may be smaller. It has a broad, rounded crown and usually a single strong trunk. The simple, deciduous, multi-lobed leaves reach up to 6-10″ long and are among the largest leaves of all oaks. The normal range of bur oak is the Eastern US into East Texas. It also extends into the eastern edge of the Hill Country. Bur oak is found along stream bottoms and moist slopes. Flowering occurs during spring with the drooping 4-6″ male catkins conspicuous while the female catkins are inconspicuous. The acorns mature in one year. Acorns may be up to 2 inches long with 2-inch diameters and are nestled inside a sturdy, fringed cup. These striking acorns are the origin of the other common name, Mossy Cup Oak. Bur Oak is a member of the white oak family and is highly resistant to Oak Wilt.
Deer Resistance:
Young trees are readily browsed and should be protected.
Planting Sites:
Bur Oak adapts well to most planting sites and soil types in the Hill Country. Plant in full sun to part shade.
Planting Instructions:
Dig hole at least 2 times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Carefully remove plant from container, taking care not to break the root ball. Loosen exterior roots, if root bound. Do not add any soil to the top of root ball. Apply mulch or compost over the root ball and surrounding area. When planting more than one specimen, space plants 20 – 40 feet apart, depending on the desired mature appearance.
Watering Instructions:
Water in well after planting. An organic-based root stimulator used according to product directions, may be used. Repeat watering a few days after planting. Water deeply every 7-10 days, after checking an inch or two into soil at edge of root ball to determine soil moisture. Skip a watering after a rain of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall after planting. Reduce water during fall and winter. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary in fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be desirable. Bur Oak has a long taproot that aids in drought tolerance once established.
NICE! Tip:
Give this tree plenty of space in which to grow as it will become the dominant tree in the landscape. Oak Wilt resistant oak trees are landscape insurance!
Comments:
An edible, nut flavored flour can be produced from acorns if the tannic acid is leached or boiled away and the nuts roasted before being ground. The large size and low tannic acid content of Bur Oak acorns makes them highly desirable to both humans and wildlife. Due to their high protein and oil content, acorns have played a large role in the diets of many native peoples worldwide. Livestock and many species of wildlife forage on the nuts and leaves. Dyes and tannin from oaks barks and nuts are used to color many fibrous materials and to process leather. White oak woods are very hard, fine-grained and extremely desirable for construction, furniture and tool handles. The distinctive large acorns are used in floral decorations.
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.