Fast-growing and tolerates a wide range of soils. Leaves are glossy deep green on top, paler green below, and scarlet in fall. Crown is open and rounded, providing light shade.
Grows to 60' to 80', 40'-50' spread.
zones 4-9
Fruit: Acorns are 1/2 to 1 inch long, with the cap covering 1/2 of the nut, cap scales are shiny, somewhat resembling a varnished black oak cap, scales on edges of cap generally not loose; the tip of the acorn may have concentric rings or fine cracks; maturing in two years and ripening in the fall.
Medicinal use : Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the treatment of hemorrhages, chronic diarrhea, dysentery etc.
Edible parts : Seed - cooked. It can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread. The seed, which is up to 25 mm long and 15 mm wide, contains bitter tannin's , these can be leached out by thoroughly washing the seed in running water though many minerals will also be lost.
Other uses : Wood - strong, hard, heavy, coarse grained. It weighs 46 lb per cubic foot. Inferior to wood from the white oaks, it is used in construction, furniture etc.