It is native primarily to the Midwestern and Upper South regions of North America.

It reaches its largest size in southern Illinois and Indiana, although the national champion is 104' by 68' in Cincinnati, Ohio.

It is distinguished from most other oaks by its leaves, which are shaped like laurel leaves, 8–20 cm (3–8 in) long and 1.5–7.5 cm (1⁄2–3 in) broad with an untoothed margin; they are bright green above, paler and somewhat downy beneath.

It is native primarily to the Midwestern and Upper South regions of North America, from southern New York west to northern Illinois and eastern Kansas, and south to central Alabama and Arkansas.

It is most commonly found growing in uplands with good drainage, less often along lowland streams, at altitudes of 100–700 m (330–2,300 ft).