Quercus ilex
Common name: 
Holly Oak
Holm Oak
Pronunciation: 
KWER-kus I-leks
Family: 
Fagaceae
Genus: 
Quercus
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Evergreen tree, to 65(100) ft [20(30) m] tall, dense, rounded form.  Bark gray, nearly smooth or finely scaly.  Leaves simple, alternate, ovate to lanceolate, 3-7 cm long, leathery, tip acute, base usually rounded, margin remotely serrate or entire (leaves on juvenile trees may have holly-like teeth), glossy very dark green above, yellowish or whitish tomentose (downy) below; petiole 6-15 mm long.  Fruit (acorn) ovoid, 2-3.5 cm long, about half enclosed by a cup with thin appressed scales.
  • Sun or light shade.  Excellent for seaside gardens.  A good evergreen street tree but so dense it should be thinned to make it more airy and graceful.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 7      Native to southern Europe and northwest Africa (Mediterranean region), including the several subspecies.  Naturalized in southern England.
  • ilex: Classical name for this tree.
  • Holm: prickly
  • Oregon State University campus: small plant east of 14-15 St. near Monroe Ave., next to the Quercus agrifolia, Coast Live Oak
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, young tree

    plant habit, young tree

  • plant habit, large tree

    plant habit, large tree

  • foliage

    foliage

  • leaves

    leaves

  • leaves

    leaves

  • leaf

    leaf

  • leaves and young acorns

    leaves and young acorns