Dry upland forests and woodlands; typically associated with poor soils,\ including alternately wet and droughty shrink-swell clays, xeric hardpans, deep sands, and shallow, nutrient-poor soils over acidic bedrock. Frequent in the coastal Plain and piedmont; infrequent and confined to lower-elevation ridges in the mountains.
Wildlife Value: Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran, including Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album), Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) larvae. Game birds and mammals eat the acorns. Birds and mammals use it for nesting.
Plant NOVA Natives lists this species as particularly popular with the non-native honeybees