Thickly branching columnar oak with strongly ascending branches. It attains a height of 15 - 20 m, a breadth of 3 - 4 m. The trunk produces branches mainly low down and older specimens often show a somewhat pendulous crown. Usually 'Fastigiata' is bred from seed, which leads to the production of variable forms. Currently the trees are also bred vegetatively so that fixed-shape cultivars can be marketed. One of these is 'Fastigiate Koster' with a guaranteed narrow columnar shape. The variable leaves are obovate to elongated oval and a little larger than those of the species. 'Fastigiata' stands up well to hard surfaces, making it an ideal tree for narrow avenues and streets. Because of its variable manner of growth, 'Fastigiata' is becoming steadily less common.