It should do fine. It will stay pretty much evergreen round year like live oak plus it grows very fast from what I've read. I have one that I planted last fall. It will be 2009 when I find out its growth rate. The new leaves are neat. Pinkish hue color before turning green. I'm getting 50 seedlings from Texas Forest to plant at my 3 acres property to liven things up a bit during the winter... Oh yeah, the one I have still have green leaves on right now. I think it would take below 20*F for them to drop leaves. I don't know for sure.

Has grown for 10 years in North Carolina.

Here is a link that might be useful: JC Raulston Arboretum - Quercus polymorpha

"Cultivated in France --Jacobson, North American Landscape Trees (1996, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley)

Thank you Lou and bboy

I think I could find a spot for perhaps five of them on my land. Not enought room for fifty.

Lou, If you'd like to sell a few....

Thanks, Terry

"Does the Bur oak do well in the deep south?"

I planted a some Bur oak acorns that are from trees grown in Auburn,AL. I think Bur oak is also native in isolated areas of Louisiana too. Southern Bur oaks have huge golf ball sized acorns that could really do some damage to a windshield. I wouldn't plant them near a street or driveway.

There are isolated Bur Oaks that are native to Northern Mississippi. I've seen them with my own eyes.

As always, many thanks to Alabamatreehugger and Q. macrocarpa. I will plant a Bur oak off the beaten trail.

You can usually find distribution maps on the USDA Plants database. I'm sure the data is not perfect, but it gives you some idea.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bur oak distribution in Mississippi

The distribution maps for bur oaks in my books cover the entire eastern U.S., so they're not as detailed as an individual state map - I didn't know there were any bur oaks growing naturally in this state. My maps show a small area around Montgomery, AL, and two small areas near Monroe, LA - since both these areas used to be big native American settlements/cities, I figured the Indians brought some acorns home from trips out west - they were known to take hunting trips - and planted them around their homes. I'm sure those huge acorns were as much a novelty to them as they are to us!
I've planted 3 Montgomery bur oak acorns, two in containers and one directly in the ground - I can't wait 'til spring!
Mexican white oak leaves look very much like live oak in the pictures I've seen of them, Vancleaveterry. The articles stress the importance of good drainage - I'm sure that's true, since it looks like their native range is very dry.
Sherry

Sherry,

MWO leaves don't look the same as live oak at all. MWO leaves are a lot bigger and has the feel of leathery which is weird. You wouldn't think it's a oak tree if you saw them for the first time. I saw them before but didn't know it was MWO till I saw a picture of it on the internet that I realized that tree i saw in person was MWO.

I planted MWO tree at my mom's in Houston which receives 40+ inches of rain most years and it was highly recommended tree there so I don't see a problem for the amount of rain as long as the soil has good drainage.

Hmmmmm....that's interesting, lou midlothian tx - I only looked at one picture, and you know how misleading pictures can be!
Sherry

Sherry, USDA shows Bur oak native to Monroe County, AL too, which is not far from us.

Here is a link that might be useful: Alabama distribution

Well, well, Alabama! That's where my Daddy was from.
Those Indians must have played Johnny Appleseed all over! :)
Sherry

Alabama... Is it only the "southern Bur oaks" that have the extra huge acorns?

Where can I get five to ten seedlings?

Where can I get five to ten Mexican white oak seedlings?

Sherry,... I bet you're right about the Indians.

Thanks, Terry

I think the northern Bur oaks have smaller acorns (still large compared to most). The biggest ones I have seen have come from Texas and Alabama.

Here are some Texas acorns for sale on ebay. Notice the size compared to the quarter.

Here is a link that might be useful: ebay

Terry,

Your best option is probably just by them from Texas Forest Service and sell the rest to your neighbors, friends, etc to make *ahem* profit.

Yep, that's what they look like - huge!
Sherry

Ok... I have bid on them.

Now kindly remove the ebay link ;-)

I would never have thought to look for acorns on ebay. What won't they sell?! Good luck, Terry. I won't bid against you!

Esh, I have seen all kinds of acorns on ebay. Most are gone now, but 1-2 months ago there were plenty for sale. I have seen hickory nuts for sale too.

Guys,

Check the link. The seller is saying that they are Burr acorns but they don't even look like what I've seen else where. I was thinking maybe it's a difference species???

Here is a link that might be useful: Burr acorns on ebay???

Lou, the ones you provided the link to look like a type of California oak, maybe Valley Oak (the seller is in CA). I think that seller must be misinformed. Those aren't the ones I was recommending to Terry.

Not much fringe on those caps and the peduncle is a bit unusual for Q. macrocarpa. Could well be some Q. michauxii DNA in there, too.

"ebay. What won't they sell?!"

I once put Loxodonta africana into google to look for some info. The top hit was:

"Loxodonta Africana. www.ebay.co.uk Fantastic low prices here. Feed your passion on eBay.co.uk!"

Anyone want to buy an elephant? Going cheap!!

Resin

Hehehe!
I'd order or bid for an elephant on e-bay, but the shipping charges might be a bit high!
Sherry

Those California acorns are most definitely misidentified.

Well... they're mine.

Any trick to germinating these acorns?

I want to thank all of you. I have learned so much on this forum.

Most important thing is that they are kept moist all the time; a dry acorn is a dead acorn.

Sow now in the ground where you want to grow them, or in narrow, deep pots indoors; if indoors keep them fairly cool (around 5 to 10°C). The root will germinate right away, and the shoot following some time later when the temperatures warm up in spring.

Resin

It probably wouldn't hurt to soak them in some cold water for a few hours when you get them. If any are floating after that, I would discard those.

I am currently growing Loquat oak acorns in rootmaker starter tray which is only 4 inches deep. I don't see the point in narrow deep pots. Anyway, the key is to control the tap root. Don't ever let it circle around and around. At least use bottomless pot sitting on 1/4" mesh to air prune the tap root and lateral branching roots will begin.

Bur oak should be very easy to grow. Just barely cover them and they will germinate right away even outside. Do the float test though. Throw away the ones that are floating. I get very high percentage germination this way...

Terry, did you get your Bur oak acorns? How big were they?

I did get them. They're huge! She also threw in some smaller acorns, gratis,... but didn't mention the species. I have her email on the packing slip... need to ask her... I think it's a "her"... exactly what they are.

It's wet and cold today, trying to get the energy to plant them. That's all I do, right? Sink them 3" into some good potting soil in pots???

If some germinate, I should have some seedlings to share. Come to Biloxi for some gambling and I'll hook you up.

I just remembered (and reviewed) the intstructions Pineresin gave me. And I did, as soon as I had opened the package, slip in a number of moist paper towels... so I must have remembered a little then....thanks Pine!

I still haven't gone outside for more than five mins today,... cold and wet.

I have about a half dozen of them. I planted some in the ground, and the others in pots. It's cold and rainy here too.

"Come to Biloxi for some gambling and I'll hook you up"

They have actually started building our new casino/hotel here at the I-65 exit. I don't gamble, but I do like the buffet ; )

Then you may still be gambling. Maybe you didn't see that one about the testing for both bacteria and food temperature levels at buffets. I used to like buffets, too, although I did wonder about the tong and spoon handles getting into the vats - and certain foods sitting out for hours.

Yep, I always worry about someone wiping their nose and then reaching for the spoons. Best to take along some hand sanitizer. It's not as bad as sitting at a slot machine and having someone blow cigarette smoke in your face though. : )

Lou, (or anyone else who might have suggestion)

One of my grandson's brought a little Mexican White Oak seedling home from school yesterday. It leaves look good. The roots are in a little 'dirt' tied up in a baggie.

He's so proud of his tree and wants to plant it right away.
He's asking me to help but I'm not sure if it should be put in a pot and planted later in the winter, or planted in the ground now. I'd say its about 10 inches tall at this point.

I told him I'd figure out the best way to do it and we'd get to it this weekend, but to keep it in the shade for now.

Bless his heart, he thinks I know EVERYTHING about planting stuff. Clearly I don't. :)