Overcup oak becomes sexually mature around 25 to 30 years of age. Acorns can be carried long distances by streams. Another study, however, found soaking overcup oak acorns strongly retarded germination, but did not appreciably reduce germination rates. The first-mentioned study may be based on shorter test times, and not have allowed for the ability of overcup oak to germinate after a long period. Delayed germination may be an adaptive trait that increases the likelihood that young seedlings will germinate after spring floods recede.
Natural reproduction is usually prolific, but mortality rates are high, probably due to flooding.
It occurs most often on soils with a moderate water table depth. Facultative Seral Species Overcup oak forms climax stands on low, backwater flats and is usually subclimax on better sites. Overcup oak is late to leaf out in the spring, sometimes as long as a month behind sympatric species.