Quercus macrocarpa

Native range: Northern America Height: 20-30 m Width: 20-30 m Flowering: Spring Fruiting: Late summer to autumn Light: Full sun Growth rate: Moderate to slow Soils: Free-draining loam, clay loam and alluvial soils Drought tolerance: Moderate Landscape position: Lower slopes Rainfall range: 550 – 1000 mm Benefits: Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is a long-lived, slow-growing and stately deciduous oak tree with a large, spreading canopy and large truck, native to eastern and central areas of North America. It is frost tolerant and drought tolerant but can experience heat stress in heatwaves. It is suited to a wide range of soil types but prefers sites with higher soil moisture. Bur Oaks fruits are large acorns that are almost totally covered by a bur-like cap. The size of Bur Oak and their dense, evenly shaped, rounded crown make them an impressive species for parkland and landscape-scale plantings, and as street trees in wide roads, providing excellent cooling shade in summer. They have poor autumn colour. Bur Oaks are fire resistant due to their thick bark and are reportedly fire-suppressant. They can be a good planting choice for large garden areas on farms. Planted in paddocks, they can provide excellent shade for stock in summer, thought they will perform poorly on very shallow dry soils. The acorns are good stock fodder and are palatable to humans. Oak timber is highly desirable, strong, light brown in colour with attractive figuring due to radial cells. It is used in beams, boards and flooring, wine barrels and cabinetry. It makes good firewood. Drawbacks: Acorns can be a pedestrian hazard and are attractive to rabbits and mice. Litter is highly flammable and should be removed from high-risk areas in dangerous fire seasons. Uses: Ornamental and landscaping use in parklands and gardens Shade trees Timber used in construction, cabinetry, and fine craft items Timber for firewood Propagation: From seed. Weed risk: Low Future climate risks:  Leaf drop due to prolonged heat exposure during heatwaves. Epicormic reshooting, canopy thinning and slow growth during extended dry years and heatwaves. Branch dieback, limb drop and death of trees in dry, exposed sites. Increase of disease and insect attack die to uneven climate. References Flora of North America – https://shorturl.at/ryzBM Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) – https://shorturl.at/cdDEW GBIF: The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (2022) – https://www.gbif.org Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Plant Database –https://shorturl.at/asEQ8