Evergreen Oak - Quercus ilex

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Alternative names
Holm Oak
Description

A tree to 20 metres. Leaves thick and leathery, deep green, oval finely toothed or with shallow spines, grey downy beneath. Catkins greenish yellow. Acorns small ripening in the first year.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Most British records are probably of previously planted specimens.

When to see it

Flowering in May and June.

UK Status

Widespread but occasional in Britain, mainly occurring as a planted tree, sometimes naturalised.

VC55 Status

Uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 4 of the 617 tetrads.

  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    05 October 2007
    acorn
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote, bottom of Leicester Road near B4114
    05 February 2020
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Leicester Castle Gardens
    07 November 2019
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Lowesby church
    26 March 2019
  • Graham Calow
    Stoney Stanton
    09 June 2019
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Leicester, Abbey Park (near Abbey Park Rd entrance)
    15 March 2019
    bark
  • Ray Pearce
    Shepshed Cemetery
    05 February 2018

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Evergreen Oak, Holm Oak
Species group:
Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Fagales
Family:
Fagaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
30
First record:
05/10/2007 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
14/06/2025 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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Latest images

Latest records

  • Andy's Rutland
    Fort Henry Lake-Exton Estate
    10 October 2018
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Lowesby church
    26 March 2019
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Knighton Park
    08 January 2018
  • Graham Calow
    Stoney Stanton
    02 October 2014
  • Alan Semper
    Melton PERA
    04 September 2015
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    27 May 2011
    catkins
  • Graham Calow
    Stoney Stanton, Highgate Lodge Farm open access land
    09 June 2019
  • Graham Calow
    Stoney Stanton, Highgate Lodge Farm open access land
    09 June 2019
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    11 June 2013
    catkins
  • Steve Mathers
    Melton Mowbray
    11 January 2018
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    13 February 2008
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Leicester Castle Gardens
    07 November 2019
  • steven lewis
    Fort Henry
    14 February 2019
  • Graham Calow
    Stoney Stanton
    01 February 2016
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Lowesby church
    26 March 2019
    overall form
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Leicester Welford Road Cemetery
    19 April 2019
  • Steve Mathers
    Melton Mowbray
    11 January 2018
  • Andy's Rutland
    Fort Henry Lake-Exton Estate
    10 October 2018
Photo of the association

Hoplocallis picta

The Evergreen Oak Aphid (Hoplocallis picta) feeds on the underside of the leaves of Everhgreen Oak (= Holm Oak). The winged adults are rather elongate and are pale yellow-green. They have banded antennae and the abdomen has a series of dark spinal markings with pale centres. The body length of Hoplocallis picta is 1.8 to 2.1 mm. Immature specimens are broader and flatter than adult alates and have four longitudinal rows of pale-centred brown sclerites bearing clusters of hairs.

 

 

Photo of the association

Myzocallis castanicola

Found on the undersides of leaves of many chestnut (Castanea) and oak (Quercus) species. It is often abundant on Sweet Chestnut. Immature Myzocallis castanicola are yellowish-white or greenish-white with some brown-black dorsal markings. All adults are winged, yellow with paired black spots on the abdomen and a central dark median line on the head. The wing venation distinctly outlined in brown and forewing veins ending in brown spots.  The brown wing outline distinguishes it from other Oak feeding aphids in this genus.

Photo of the association

Myzocallis schreiberi

The aphid Myzocallis schreiberi feeds on Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex), on the underside of the leaf. Immature Myzocallis schreiberi are whitish to pale straw yellow with four longitudinal rows of dark spots and long body hairs. Winged adult viviparae of M. schreiberi are pale yellow, with the head and the thorax slightly darker. The prothorax often has short lateral streaks of dark pigment. The dorsal abdomen has small transversely oval, dark spinal spots.

Photo of the association

Aceria ilicis

Aceria ilicis is a mite which causes felt galls to form on the leaves of Holm Oak. The upperside of the leaf may have a bulge about 2 to 3mm high, with a corresponding depression on the underside with a rusty brown erineum; usually several galls on a leaf; mites live amongst the hairs.

Photo of the association

Stigmella suberivora

The larvae of the moth Stigmella suberivora mine the leaves of evergreen oaks produving a wide gallery, usually along leaf-edge before turning towards midrib.  There is a broad band of frass in the middle, leaving clear margins.

Photo of the association

Ectoedemia heringella

The larvae of the moth Ectoedemia heringella mine the leaves of Evergreen Oak creating a contorted gallery mine filled with dark frass. The first part is very narrow, but it widens abruptly in the later part.  Usually there are several larvae mining a single leaf and it can be extremely abundant.