Large trees develop very thick whitish bark cracked into deep furrows, similar to the pedunculate oak but lighter in colour.

Both leaf surfaces are covered with minute pubescence which is sometimes lost in older leaves by late summer.

The Quercus pubescens acorns are light brown to yellow, 8–20 mm long, usually thin and pointed.

The acorn cups are light gray to almost white, with pointed, overlapping scales, covered with tomentum.

Three subspecies are accepted by Flora Europaea: Downy oaks typically grow in dry, lime-rich soils.

Its optimum is in transitional Mediterranean-oceanic climates, characterized by warm to hot, dry summers and cool (though not mild) winters with ample precipitation.