Daldinia childiae is a decomposer of wood and is common in Nebraska. The fruiting times are spring through fall, though the tough fruiting bodies will overwinter and can be found year-round. Though mostly found on broadleaf trees it is sometimes found on conifers.

The fruiting body is mostly ball-shaped with an outer surface that is black or brown. When broke in half, the contents feature charcoal-like concentric zones of black and gray. When these contents are mixed with dilute KOH the resulting color is brownish which distinguishes it from the European Daldinia concentrica which produces purple with the same test.