# Holm oak (*Quercus ilex*) The Holm oak is a strong tree with shiny, dark green leaves. It can live for hundreds of years and provides homes for many animals. Its acorns are a tasty treat for squirrels and birds! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Holm oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Frouzet_fg02.jpg&width=800) Photo: Fritz Geller-Grimm, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frouzet_fg02.jpg) ## Appearance The Holm oak is an evergreen tree with a dense, rounded crown. It has small, dark green leaves that are leathery and spiny, similar to holly. Its bark is dark grey and becomes deeply fissured as it matures, giving it a rugged appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Fagaceae - **Genus:** Quercus ## Interesting facts - Holm oak leaves are evergreen, staying green all year, even in winter! - Its super strong wood was once prized for shipbuilding by ancient sailors! - These ancient trees can live for over 1,000 years, witnessing centuries of history! - Wild boars and squirrels love to munch on its acorns, burying some for new trees! ## Special abilities - **Evergreen Energy:** Holm oak has thick, evergreen leaves that help it photosynthesize and grow all year, even in winter! - **Deep Root Drinker:** Holm oak can grow very deep roots that help it reach groundwater during long, dry periods. - **Fire Survivor:** Holm oak has thick, corky bark that helps protect its trunk from forest fires, allowing it to resprout. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 2000-2800 cm - **Spread:** 1000-2000 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Wild boar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-boar) (*Sus scrofa*) — Acorns are a primary food source for them. - **Eaten by:** [Red squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-squirrel) (*Sciurus vulgaris*) — Squirrels gather and eat Holm oak acorns. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-jay) (*Garrulus glandarius*) — Jays eat and disperse Holm oak acorns. - **Eaten by:** [Red deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-deer) (*Cervus elaphus*) — Deer browse on leaves and consume acorns. ## Traits - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring near trees, and don't climb without an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Holm oak? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Holm oak? 2000-2800 cm ### How wide does Holm oak spread? 1000-2000 cm ### How big are the flowers on Holm oak? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Holm oak bloom? Spring ### Is Holm oak edible? No ### Is Holm oak toxic? None ### What is Holm oak's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Gutturu Mannu Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gutturu-mannu-regional-nature-park) — IT · Park - [Tepilora Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tepilora-regional-nature-park) — IT · Park - [Aspromonte National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aspromonte-national-park) — IT · Park - [Barrancas de Castrejón y Calaña Natural Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrancas-de-castrejon-y-calana-natural-monument) — Castilla-La Mancha, ES · Park - [Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gola-della-rossa-and-frasassi-regional-nature-park) — IT · Park - [Park Güell](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/park-guell) — Cataluña, ES · Park [View all places to see Holm oak](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/holm-oak) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Holm oak: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/holm-oak)