A few of the autumn leaves turn dull brown and hang on the twigs all winter. The bark is dark brown, smooth, becoming deeply cracked with age. The wood is hard and heavy. Acrons are small, somewhat flattened, and about half covered by a reddish-brown, scaly cup.
Shingle Oak is a handsome tree with slender branches and a tall, pyramidal, rounded crown. It resembles Willow Oak but has broader, coarser leaves. Leaves (3 to 6 in. long) are dark green above, paler and hairy beneath, with wavy margins and a spiny tip. They look as if they should be evergreen, but are not.
