Quercus ilex
Emblematic tree of Mediterranean vegetation, very long-lived.
The holm oak needs full sun exposure, with a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, and is ideally planted in autumn to encourage root establishment. It is highly drought-tolerant and requires very little watering once established, thriving especially in well-drained, poor soils. It withstands hard frosts down to -15 °C, making it ideal for Mediterranean and continental climates. It is an easy-to-grow outdoor species that can reach between 5 and 25 metres in height over the years.