Moderately tolerant tree on upland and bottomland sites primarily in the upper Midwest and Great Plains that is drought tolerant. Twigs sometimes have corky ridges and also often have persistent stipules at the twig tip. Leaves are deciduous with 2 center sinuses that nearly reach the midrib and are pubescent below. Twigs are up to 1/4" long, obtuse, and often pubescent. Fruit is up to 1" long, generally wider than long, and almost enclosed in an unfringed cap. Bark is similar to Q. alba and often with large irregular plates.