Quercus ilex

The classic English oak is of course a deciduous tree, but the oak family includes evergreen forms. The species Quercus ilex is mainly found in southern Europe, the name reflects the green holly-like leaves which are a key characteristic. It is not native to the UK, but it has been grown here for centuries, and is often known as the Holm oak. 

In UK conditions the Holm oak becomes an attractive large spreading tree, likely to be more than 6m in the first 10 years. It does best on well-drained deep soils, but tolerates almost any soil and situation. As with all oaks times is on its side - it grows slowly but is very long-lived, and there are many Holm oaks in the British Isles which have more than one century under their belts.

The Holm oak tree produces catkins in the summer, which turn into acorns in the autumn. Although a true year-round evergreen, it does shed older leaves in the spring.