[4] It has oval to egg-shaped, sharply toothed, dull green leaves which are 1.4–3 centimetres (1⁄2–1+1⁄8 inches) long[3] and 1–2 cm (1⁄2–1 in) broad, leathery on their top surfaces and somewhat hairy underneath.

Male and female catkins grow on the same plant, blooming as at the leaves unfurl.

[3] The solitary or paired brown acorns are 1–3 cm (1⁄2–1 in) long[3] and 1–2 cm (1⁄2–1 in) broad, and pointed or egg-shaped with thin caps when mature; they mature in about 6–8 months after pollination.

Many other scrub-type oaks may be found in these regions, and careful inspection is required to identify individuals of Q. berberidifolia and its hybrids.

It is a native of the scrubby hills of California and a common member of chaparral ecosystems.