Q. ilex - אלון הגלעין

also called the Holly Oak; a native of southern Europe and northern Africa; it forms a large evergreen tree. Growing to 3 feet in a year ( record is 4 feet ) it can eventually reach up to 100 feet or very rarely 130 feet tall; 120 feet wide with a trunk diameter of 8 feet. A 10 year old tree can be up to 23 feet tall

and it can reach 65 feet in 25 years. Holm Oaks cast dense shade that lawns do not

thrive under. This spectacular tree is so commonly planted in England that

many people actually believe it is native.

It has a very dense massive domed crown with sharply ascending upper branches. The leaves are very glossy up to 5 x 3 inches and are very leathery dark green above; white and downy below. They can either be smooth edged or toothed like Ilex aquifolium. At first in spring the new foliage is whitish and downy.

The late spring flowers are yellow drooping catkins and are followed in the fall with small acorns to 0.7 inches.

The light gray bark is rough and shallowly cracked into small squares. The Holm Oak thrives on all soils and tolorates shade. Hardy from zone 6 to 10; it is not injured at -10F but is killed to ground at -20F however it may still resprout. It is not bothered by pests, diseases or storms and also is salt air and very lime tolorant.

'Laurifolia' only difference is narrower leaves to 6 x 2 inches

אלון הגלעין - KEW - Royal Botanic Garden

גלרית תמונות - אתר Gunter