Holm oak
Quercus ilex
A rock-solid Mediterranean anchor: an evergreen oak that shrugs off heat and drought and feeds wildlife with acorns while holding the high canopy for decades. Slow-growing, with dense shade.
Holm oak in a syntropic line
Holm oak is an Emergent Climax scaffold for chalky and loam lines. It frames the microclimate for high and medium producers below; plant nitrogen-fixing shrubs and placenta biomass under its drip line, then thin lower wood as secondary trees take over the mid-storey.
Tolerances and growing conditions
- Strata
- Emergent
- Lifecycle
- Climax
- Soil preference
- Rocky, Loam
- Soil pH range
- 5.5 – 8.5
- Min. temperature
- -18°C
- Min. rainfall
- 400 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- High
- Frost tolerance
- High
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Irrigation needed
- Low
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Waterlogging tolerance
- Low
- Origin
- Mediterranean
- Native to Portugal
- Yes
How to manage it
Plant as a long-term climax anchor for acorns and shelter; lift the canopy gradually with structural pruning to let light reach the understory beneath its dense shade.
How to propagate
Sow acorns fresh in autumn; keep moist until they sprout.
Guidance, not a guarantee — success varies by species and skill.
What to watch out for
Casts very dense shade and grows slowly, so avoid crowding light-demanding species beneath it while young; acorns are toxic to some livestock in quantity.
Frequently asked questions about Holm oak
Is holm oak frost-hardy?
Yes for winter cold in many climates — generally hardy to around -18°C when dormant, with high frost tolerance in the catalog. Flowering crops can still lose a season to late frost, so site them carefully.
What soil does holm oak need?
It does best on rocky, loam ground, at pH about 5.5–8.5.
How much water does holm oak need?
Plan for a rainfall floor around 400 mm/year, plus low irrigation once established.
Can holm oak handle wet or waterlogged soil?
Poorly — holm oak has low waterlogging tolerance, so keep it off winter-wet clay and standing water.
What should I watch out for with holm oak?
Casts very dense shade and grows slowly, so avoid crowding light-demanding species beneath it while young; acorns are toxic to some livestock in quantity.
Holm oak in soil templates
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