Holm oak (Quercus ilex)

El Quercus ilex It is a robust and very resistant tree.. Although it grows slowly, it is a species capable of withstanding both moderate frosts and drought. And furthermore, it has such a dense crown that it provides a lot of shade, something that is undoubtedly enjoyed during days when the heat is especially strong.

As if that were not enough, its fruits, which we know by the name of acorns, are a delicious snack after toasting them (they should never be eaten raw, since doing so would end up with stomach pain at least). For all these reasons, it is a garden tree or, if you will, an orchard tree, which will make our days very happy. Let's get to know it.

How is he Quercus ilex?

El Quercus ilex It is an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region, well known by the common names of oak, holm oak or chaparro, the latter widely used in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. It reaches heights between 15 and 25 meters, depending on the conditions of the terrain and, above all, on the rainfall; thus, in places where it rains little or very little it will stay lower than in those where it rains more often.

Its crown is rounded and wide, and is made up of green and leathery leaves, which remain on the plant for an average of 3 years until little by little they are replaced by new ones. It is monoecious, having male flowers and female flowers in the same specimen.. The former are soft yellow catkins at first and brown when ripe; the female ones sprout from hanging stems, they are small and yellow.

Its fruits, the acorns, measure about 2 centimeters and are dark brown.. Its tip is sharp, something that differentiates it from other Quercus, and it matures in autumn-winter. It is a tree that begins to bear fruit at 15 years of age, as long as the weather and soil conditions allow it.

What is?

The oak has multiple uses. We have already mentioned one, which is the edible, but there are others that are also interesting to know:

• Ornamental: It is the most widespread use among individuals. It is a tree that provides a very pleasant, cool and dense shade.
• Food: the sweetest acorns are food for livestock, but also for humans. We consume after toasting them. Flour is also made and used to make bread.
• To tan the leather: Its bark is rich in tannins, which is used in tanneries.
• to disinfect wounds: If the bark is mixed with the mashed leaves and fruits, and then cooked, a substance is obtained that can be used to heal wounds.
• Wood: It is used in the manufacture of parts that have to withstand a lot of friction, such as car wheels, for example, or tools.

What are their cares?

The oak, or Quercus ilex, is one of the most common trees in Mediterranean Spain. It is found mainly in the peninsula, but also in the Balearic Islands. This does not prevent it from being seen in many gardens; Not surprisingly, it resists heat just as well as sub-zero temperatures. But it is important that several things are taken into account so that problems do not arise:

• It is a tree that needs space. It grows slowly, but that does not mean that we can grow it in a pot for its entire life (unless it is pruned), or in a very small garden.
• In climates where there is no winter (cold) it cannot live. Although it is an evergreen plant, it needs temperatures to drop below 0 degrees at some point, and to stay below 20ºC for a few months.
• It needs a minimum of 400mm of rainfall per year to be a tree that takes care of itself. It withstands drought very well once it is rooted and acclimatized, but if it is too long it has a hard time.

Based on this, the care you need are the following:

Location

It is a plant that It is always grown outdoors, and in an area exposed to direct sunlight.. Even the seedbeds have to be placed in exposed places so that the seedlings can grow correctly from the beginning of their lives.

Land and subscriber

Grows well in virtually any type of soil, but if you are going to have it in a pot for a few years, you have to plant it in a substrate that drains the water well (such as this), since the roots do not support excess moisture.

As for the subscriber, it is advisable to pay it in spring and summer. If it is on the ground, you can put cow manure on it, for example; and if it is in a pot, use liquid fertilizers of organic origin, such as guano (for sale here).

Irrigation

During the time it is in the pot, and during the first years it spends in the ground it has to be watered several times a week in summer. On the contrary, the rest of the year it will not be necessary to water it more than when the dry land is seen.

Related article:

When and how to water trees?

Pruning

Doesn't really need pruning, but if it is going to be grown in a pot, its branches will have to be pruned at the end of spring. It is very important that these prunings do not detract from the beauty of the tree, that they are not seen too much.

It will always be better to make small cuts for many years than to do a drastic pruning one year, because if we opt for the latter, we will surely shorten the life of our tree. Quercus ilex. Also, you have to use tools.

Multiplication

The oak multiplies by seeds in winter (they have to be cold to be able to germinate), and cuttings in spring.

Plagues and diseases

It is very resistant, but it is true that fungus can affect you when you have too much water, or a plague known as the oak gall. The latter causes small bumps to appear on the underside of the leaves, as a consequence of the attack of the Dryomia lichtensteini, which is a type of dripter.

To control it, what is done is to prune the affected parts, and keep the tree as healthy as possible.

Rusticity

It supports between -15ºC minimum and 40ºC maximum.

What dou you think about him Quercus ilex?