This tree has leaves 3 to 6 inches long, bristle tipped, deeply 5 to 7 lobed with wide circular or U-shaped
sinuses. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface, and paler below with tufts of pale hairs in the
axils of the veins. The twigs are slender, smooth, green to red brown in color. Buds are 1/8 inch long, redbrown, shiny, sharp-pointed, and angled. Acorns are hemisphere shaped, light brown, striped with dark
vertical lines in a cup covering only the base of the acorn with appressed, free-tipped scales. The bark on
the lower trunk is gray brown and slightly ridged; on smaller trees it is smooth and light gray to brown.
This tree is a bottomland species, preferring moist, acidic soils. It is native in the southeast part of Iowa
along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. It attains heights of 70 to 80 feet, with a spread of 25 to 40
feet. It has strong apical dominance, often developing into a tree with a single main leader with the upper
branches pointing up and the lower branches pointing down. It is a poor self pruner, holding its branches
longer than most other trees in this genus.
This tree has been planted throughout Iowa as an ornamental because of its ease of transplanting,
handsome foliage, and pyramidal crown. However, it is very site sensitive; it prefers moist, acidic sites.
On sites which are not acidic, it often exhibits iron chlorosis, a yellowing of the leaf tissue between the
veins. This is due to iron deficiency because of the low availability of iron in higher pH soils. It should not
be planted on sites with a soil pH above 7.0 to 7.3.
The wood of this tree is heavy, hard and usually knotty.