Bur oak
Pollinator Value
- 🔑 Keystone
- Hosts 530+ species.
- 🐛 Larval Host
- Oak Hairstreak, Imperial Moth, Banded Hairstreak
- ❄️ Winter Food Source
- Yes — Massive acorns are a key winter food for wildlife.
Growing Conditions
- Sun
- Full Sun ☀️
- Moisture
- Dry 💧, Regular 💧💧
- Bloom
- May
- Sociability
- S1 — Solitary / Individual
Ecology & Conservation
Proximity
- Proximity Score
ℹ
Our internally developed scale tracking proximity of historical species occurrence to our Eco-Region (8.1.8). 0 = hyper-local, 5 = off-continent.
- 0
- Native Status
- Outaouais: ✅ · QC: ✅ · ON: ✅
Native Occurrence
- Closest Native Direction
- Local
- Eco-zone
ℹ
The closest historically occurring Eco-zone, mapped to the CEC values.
- Mixedwood Plains
- Eco-province
- Great Lakes-St. Lawrence
- Eco-region
- Lower Gatineau Depression
Rarity & Status
- Rarity Notes
- Secure: Deep-rooted, fire-tolerant.
- Rank QC
ℹ
In Quebec, the CDPNQ (Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec) is the body that assigns these ranks using the NatureServe methodology.
Click here for more info → - S5 — Secure — Common
- Rank ON
ℹ
The S-rank (Subnational Rank) is a standardized tool used across Canada to measure the extinction risk of a species within a specific province or territory.
Click here for more info → - S5 — Secure — Common
- Ecological Context
- Bur Oak: Indigenous; very common in the Ottawa Valley.
Edibility & Foraging
- Edible
- ✅ Edible
- Commonly Eaten
- ✅ Yes
- Notes
- Acorns (must leach tannins in water, then grind for flour).
Medicinal Properties
- Category
- Digestive
- Notes
- Astringent for intestinal inflammations.
△ Low Toxicity
High tannins cause digestive/kidney issues.
Provenance
- Seed Provenance
- Eastern Townships QC; Southern Manitoba
- Seed Source
-
Multiple seed sources:
- Arboquebecium
- Oak Summit Nursery