Bur Oak is the dominant oak of the tallgrass prairie region and the most drought and fire-tolerant oak in North America, with a thick, corky bark that resists prairie fires. It ranges farther into the Great Plains than any other eastern oak. Its large, fringed acorns ('mossy-cup' acorns) are sweet and were an important food for plains indigenous peoples.
Best time to see a Bur Oak
The best time to see a Bur Oak is April–September, when about 68% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 21,173 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Bur Oak? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Bur Oak sightings near you
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