Ardagh Village Landscapes
Ardagh, Co. Longford, Ireland

Holm Oak, Evergreen Oak

Quercus Ilex

This is a large evergreen tree with attractive corrugated bark and very variable, usually oblong to ovate to lance shaped dark green leaves up to 3 inches long. It can make heights of 80 feet and widths of 70 feet but they are usually slimmer than that.

The tree had been grown in Britain for some 400 years and is common in parks, gardens and churchyards.

It thrives in all classes of well-drained soil and is particularly valuable for coastal planting and as it responds well to clipping it can be grown as a hedge and is ideal for coastal gardens.

It is a native of the Mediterranean region and South West Europe.