It is also known as a member of the rockfrong lichens due to its coloration.

[2] Grows to around 6–12 cm in diameter with irregular lobate lobes.

The upper surface of the lichen has rounded lobed tips with yellow-green or blueish green areas on the surface.

[3] Commonly found attached to acid rocks in sheltered and semi-sheltered open coastal and intermontane areas at lower elevations as such it is commonly found in across North America except in deserts and open plains.

[2][4][5][6] Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia produces constictic, norstictic, stictic, norstictic, usnic and menegazzic acids.