In relatively open stands, the dense canopy may reach nearly to the ground. Leaf margins are usually smooth or entire but may be spiny-toothed, particularly when young. Canyon live oak first flowers between 15 and 20 years of age.
Male flowers are tawny catkins whereas female flowers are sparsely-flowered spikes.
The variety nana is primarily distinguished by its compact shrubby growth form. Both seed production and vegetative sprouting are important modes of regeneration in canyon live oak. However, canyon live oak was found to have the highest mean annual production of five California oaks sampled. Approximately 19 percent of the individual canyon live oaks produced no acorns during the course of this study, whereas 43 percent produced acorns in 4 or more years. Trees in dense stands or clumps generally produce fewer acorns than large, single trees.