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Bur Oak

Broad, rounded open crowned with stout spreading branches, stout trunk & high branching. Corky branches give it a picturesque appearance. Native of North central and Northeastern U.S., southeastern Canada.

Scientific Name:

Quercus macrocarpa

Mature Height:

50 - 80'

Mature Spread:

45'+

Leaves:

Dark green, 4 - 10" long, 2 - 5" wide, turning yellow or brown in fall.

Flowers:

Inconspicuous.

Fruit:

Large acorns up to 2" long with fringed or mossy cups. Largest of native oak acorns.

Root System:

No large surface roots.

Growth Rate:

Moderate.

Cultural Notes:

Tolerant of varying soils and moisture conditions. Tolerant of urban conditions.

Sacramento Specimen:

West side of service drive off L Street in Capitol Park.

William Land Park, about 30' from Land Park Dr., near the CAN planting.

101 Sandburg Drive (young specimen)

Minimum Planting Distances

• from SMUD pad mounted equipment (such as a transformer mounted on a concrete pad): 8 feet
• from a building foundation: 15 feet
• from walks and driveways: 8 feet
• from an air conditioner: 8 feet
• from a fence: 6 feet
• from a utility offset (such as an underground line, pipe or cable): 6 feet
• from a utility overhead (such as an overhead power line): 30 feet
• from a swimming pool: 15 feet
• from a septic system: 15 feet
• between trees*: 25 feet

* To calculate the planting distance between different size trees, add the distances between each species in the column and divide answer in half. Example: the distance between a Red Maple (large tree) and Amur Maple (small tree) is calculated: 25 feet + 15 feet = 40 feet ÷ 2 = 20 feet. The distance between these two different size trees should be 20 feet.