Like other oaks, the chinkapin is extremely drought and heat tolerant, and can adapt to almost any types of soil. It is a part of the white oak family, growing to be around 50 to 60 feet tall, with an open, round canopy making it an ideal shade tree. Its bark resembles that of the white oak, with shallow grooves and an ash-like look. This tree can be distinguished by its unique, saw-tooth shaped leaves and its inconspicuous greenish/yellowish flowers that bloom in the late spring/summer.