It is a slow-growing oak that lives in dry areas on the edges of fields, tops of ridges, and also grows in poor soils, and is resistant to rot, fire, and drought.

The specific epithet stellata is Latin for "star";[3] it is named this because the trichome hairs on the bottom of the leaves are stellate[4] or star-shaped.

[5] A recent study in Kansas concluded that deer browsing reduces post-oak recruitment in canopy gaps generally in the sapling phase.

[12] Because of its ability to grow in dry sites, attractive crown, and strong horizontal branches, it is used in urban forestry.

It is resistant to decay, so it is used for railroad ties, siding, planks, construction timbers, stair risers and treads, flooring, pulp, veneer, particle board, fuel, and its namesake fence posts.