The bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) attains heights between 40 and 100 feet, notes Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses. Bur oak, named for the pointy gray scales on the large acorns, is native to the easternmost two thirds of the state. Dark green, fiddle shaped leaves as long as 6 inches give the bur oak ornamental value. It has uses as a specimen tree, a lawn tree and a shade tree. Bur oak is a long lived oak with tough hard wood. In Kansas, bur oak grows along streams and on the prairies. It does best in full sun, alkaline soil and in a well draining spot, notes the University of Connecticut Plant Database.