Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex)

The Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex), also fondly known as the Holm Oak or Holly Oak, is one of the most majestic, versatile, and dependable evergreen trees you can introduce to an Irish landscape. Offering a timeless architectural elegance, it features leathery, dark-glossy green leaves with beautifully soft, silver-white downy undersides that catch the light in a breeze. When young, its foliage displays subtle, holly-like serrated margins, gracefully transitioning to smooth edges as the tree matures. This tree is a true survivor. Known across Europe for its incredible resilience, Quercus ilex is highly prized for its exceptional tolerance to harsh salt spray and relentless coastal winds, making it the premier choice for coastal windbreaks, tall formal hedging, or dense privacy screening. Whether left to grow into a spectacular, rounded specimen tree or clipped hard into a structured, formal framework, the Evergreen Oak brings a profound sense of permanence, weight, and shelter to any garden space.