It is a deciduous tree up to 15 metres (49 feet) tall with a trunk as much as 80 cm (31 in) in diameter.

The leaves are thick and leathery, up to 11.6 cm (4+1⁄2 in) long, and elliptical with numerous pointed teeth along the edges.

[3] It flowers from March to June, and its acorns mature between October and December.

[1] Quercus castanea is native to the mountains of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.

The species' estimated extent of occurrence is 1,110,000 square kilometres (430,000 sq mi), based on over 500 collections and herbarium records.