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
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a Bur Oak? Identify it instantly.
Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.
Get HuckGet an alert when a Bur Oak is spotted
Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.
Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.
Love plants? Get Huck field notes
Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.