It occurs in deciduous forests of Europe, where it forms a symbiotic mycorrhizal relationship with species of oak (Quercus).

The summer cep was formally described by Jacob Christian Schäffer as Boletus reticulatus in 1774, which took precedence over B. aestivalis as described by Jean-Jacques Paulet in 1793.

[1] French mycologist Jean-Jacques Paulet described it as Le grand Mousseux (Tubiporus aestivalis) in 1793, adding that it was delicious with chicken fricassee and could be found in the Bois de Boulogne in summer.

[8] The summer cep's fruiting body is a mushroom with a swollen bulbous stem, and large convex cap.

[9] It bears a velvety brown, rust to chocolate cuticle which when dry often cracks to reveal the white flesh underneath, giving the appearance of a net.

The stipe is central, up to about 12 cm (4+3⁄4 in) tall,[9] and has a strongly marked reticulated pattern with a variable white to brown colour.

[11] Boletus reticulatus has been recovered from southern Africa, where it was likely introduced, growing under the Mexican species Pinus patula.

Based on analysis of fruit bodies collected in Portugal, there are 334 kilocalories per 100 gram of bolete (as dry weight).