Quercus ilex L. Holm Oak, Evergreen Oak, Holly Leaved Oak. Evergreen, native to the Mediterranean region, common in parks and gardens and roadsides, it makes a good solid healthy looking tree as wide as it is tall with a dense dark appearance due to the abundance of its foliage. It thrives with clipping. The wood is hard and durable, used for joinery, vine props and makes good charcoal. Height to as much as 28m (90ft). Flowers appear with the new leaves in June, female flowers are in the new leaf axils. The acorns up to 1.8cm (¾in) long, fall in October; after good summers there is usually a very heavy crop. The leaves are variable in size, 3.7-7.5cm (1½-3in) long, and may have spine-tipped teeth or be untoothed. Young leaves have down on both surfaces but this soon falls away from the upper surface, leaving it dark glossy green. The bark is nearly black and cracked into small squares. Z7.