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Bur Oak

[IMAGE: Bur Oak]

Closeup of Acorns Bur Oak Tree

City of Fort Smith TreeQuest Winner - 2004
City's Largest Known Species to Date
The Bur Oak tree, which is native throughout the Midwest and Great Plains, is prominent in Arkansas. Its coarse texture comes from viewing the tree's large leather-looking dark green leaves and furrowed bark. When given plenty of space, its massive spreading form can develop into some of the most picture perfect specimens of the mighty oak. Our particular tree is starting to show symptoms of construction damage by the declining top and outer branches.

Several other nice Bur Oak trees are located in the wooded area in the parking lot north of Grand Avenue between 52nd and 50th Streets.

Bark: The bark becomes deeply furrowed with age and is an unusual dark gray to gray-brown.

Foliage: The alternate, simple leaves are lobed like the shape of the lobe of an ear with many lobes following the leaf margin. In the summer leaves are glossy green on top and lighter underneath, changing to a copper-yellow color in the fall.

Flowers: Yellowish-green and insignificant.

Fruit: Bur Oak trees produce large oval acorns, that are half covered by their fringed cap. The acorn mature in a single season.


More Information

Tree ID Number: 360
Scientific Name: Quercus macrocarpa
Mature Height: 70 - 80 ft
Canopy Spread (Diameter): 70 - 90 ft
Branching Shape: Rounded uniform symmetrical crown
Growth Rate: Slow
Wood Strength: Hard wood
Cold Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Soil Moisture Requirements: Moist, Dry
Light Requirements: Sun
Common Pests: Anthracnose, twig blights, wilt, wood decay, shoe-string root rot, various galls, scales, gypsy moth, yellow-necked , borer, flatheaded borer, leaf miner, oak lace bug, oak mite.
Comments: Architectural use in landscape for symmetrical crown

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