Quercus ilex L.

Evergreen, broad-crowned tree to 20 (–25+) m high, the lower branches often pendulous. Bark hard, ± smooth at first, becoming fissured and tessellated (with small block-like scales), brown to grey. Leaves variable in shape, size and toothing; lamina ovate to lanceolate or elliptic, c. 3–6 (–10) cm long, 1.5–3 (–6) cm wide, cuneate, rounded or sometimes truncate or shallowly cordate at base, entire or occasionally (whole margin to remotely) sharply toothed to spiny (spinulose-dentate, especially leaves of juvenile and vegetative shoots), sometimes wavy margin, whitish-tomentose (downy) when young, the upper surface glabrescent, becoming shiny dark green (often with scattered minute stellate hairs), the lower surface grey-or whitish tomentose (the dense indumentum often becoming greyish or tawny); petiole mostly 0.5–1.5 cm long (to 2 cm long in litt.), tomentose; the leaf and branchlet trichomes minute stellate hairs observed with 10× lens. Monoecious: male flowers in pendulous catkins 3–7 cm long [1.5–2.5 cm long, fide Webb et al. (1988)]; female flowers minute, 2 or 3 on short, erect peduncles in leaf axils. Acorns ovoid to ellipsoid or obloid-ellipsoid, (1.5–) 2–3+ cm long, 1–3 clustered on a short downy peduncle; cupule c. one-third to half (–two-thirds) as long as acorn, with appressed scales.

It grows in Mediterranean climates. It can tolerate salt laden winds. It can grow in poor soils. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Temperate. Hobart Botanical Gardens. Kyneton Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 7-11. Arboretum Tasmania.

Often cultivated as an ornamental, shade or street tree. Suitable for tall hedges, including as a coastal windbreak tolerant of maritime conditions. The hardwood has been used in construction and for woodcrafts. The bark is a source of tannin. The acorns are used as fodder for pigs. The tree is favoured in the establishment of truffle orchards. The galls have been used in traditional medicine. See de Rigo & Caudullo (2016), and references therein.

Plants are grown from seed. These should preferably be planted where they are to grow. They can also be grown from root suckers.