- Botanical name: Quercus ilex
- Plant Type: Tree, Evergreen
Yellow
Green
Silver
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
Quercus ilex, or holm oak, is a large, evergreen tree with a rounded crown. It’s also known as the holly oak or evergreen oak. The young leaves look similar to holly leaves and have white undersides, while the older leaves have smoother edges. In June new, whitish young leaves appear at the same time as yellow catkins. After being pollinated by wind, the female catkins develop into acorns, which are smaller and more pointed than those of English oak.
The holm oak is tolerant of salt spray and strong winds, so is a good choice for a coastal garden and is often planted as a windbreak. It’s also tolerant of pollution, so can be grown in urban gardens. Holm oak can be clipped into large topiary shapes – this is commonly seen in Italy. It can also be grown as a hedge.
The holm oak is native to the Mediterranean and was introduced to Britain in the late 1500s. With climate change, the holm oak could be better suited to drier summers than some of our native trees. It doesn’t support quite as many species as our native oaks (Quercus rubra and Quercus petraea) but the catkins are a source of pollen for bees and other insects, and large birds and small mammals eat the acorns. Its dense, evergreen canopy gives year-round shelter for birds.
Grow in any well-drained soil, in sun or partial shade. In severe winters Quercus ilex may lose its leaves or die, so it is best grown in milder parts of the UK. Prune to shape in summer if needed.
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How to grow Quercus ilex
-
Plant size
25m height
20m spread
-
Aspect
South facing, east facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Back
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / chalky / alkaline / clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does not flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do Prune in June |
J
Do Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do not Prune in September |
O
Do not Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
| Collect seeds | ||||||||||||
| Collect seeds |
J
Do not Collect seeds in January |
F
Do not Collect seeds in February |
M
Do not Collect seeds in March |
A
Do not Collect seeds in April |
M
Do not Collect seeds in May |
J
Do not Collect seeds in June |
J
Do not Collect seeds in July |
A
Do not Collect seeds in August |
S
Do Collect seeds in September |
O
Do Collect seeds in October |
N
Do Collect seeds in November |
D
Do Collect seeds in December |
| At its best | ||||||||||||
| At its best |
J
Plant is at its best in January |
F
Plant is at its best in February |
M
Plant is at its best in March |
A
Plant is at its best in April |
M
Plant is at its best in May |
J
Plant is at its best in June |
J
Plant is at its best in July |
A
Plant is at its best in August |
S
Plant is at its best in September |
O
Plant is at its best in October |
N
Plant is at its best in November |
D
Plant is at its best in December |
Quercus ilex and wildlife
Quercus ilex is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects and birds. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers and provides shelter and habitat.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Attractive to Birds
Does not attract Butterflies/Moths
Does not attract Other pollinators
Is Quercus ilex poisonous?
Quercus ilex has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Quercus ilex
