Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Fagaceae ⟩ Quercus ilex / holm oak

Quercus ilex L.

holm oak (Fagaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
WidespreadStrong tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Quercus ilex is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Mediterranean Basin, but widely planted in the British Isles, especially on our more southerly coasts.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2015-06-05

 holm oak / Quercus ilex: _Quercus ilex_ is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Mediterranean Basin, but widely planted in the British Isles, especially on our more southerly coasts.

Leaves and catkins of male flowers

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2015-06-05

 holm oak / Quercus ilex: Leaves and catkins of male flowers

The acorns of Quercus ilex are pointier than those of Quercus robur or Quercus petraea, with smaller scales on the cup.

Stanpit (VC11: South Hampshire); 2018-09-06

 holm oak / Quercus ilex: The acorns of _Quercus ilex_ are pointier than those of _Quercus robur_ or _Quercus petraea_, with smaller scales on the cup.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne