Quercus Ilex AKA Holm Oak Options Explained
90-120cm: 5-7 Litre pot, 1-2 years old, 90-120cm tall at delivery. Likely to be single stem.
125-150cm: 7-9 Litre pot, 2-3 years old, 125-150cm tall at delivery. Likely to be half standard.
150-180cm: 9-12 Litre, 2-3 years old, 150-180cm tall at delivery, likely to be half standard.
Multi Stem: 15-20 Litre pot, 150-180cm tall at delivery and more than one stem!
Girth Sizes: See Below.
Once you get over a certain age and height, trees are measured by girth which is taken 1 metre above ground level. The Holm Oak (Quercus Ilex) we sell by girth measurement are considered "standards" and have a lollipop shape to them. Each measurement represents around 12-18 months growth and they very roughly translate as follows:
06-08 cm = 2.40-2.9 m. Usually a 25L Pot.
08-10 cm = 2.40-2.9 m. Usually a 30L Pot.
10-12 cm =2.40-2.9 m. Usually a 35L Pot.
12-14 cm = 2.80-3.5 m. Usually a 70L Pot.
14-16 cm = 2.80-3.5 m. Usually a 80L Pot.
16-18 cm = 3.00-3.50 m. Usually a 110L Pot.
18-20 cm = 3.80 - 4.00 m. Approximately a 120L Pot.
20-25 cm= 3.60 - 4.00 m. Approximately 180L Pot.
The girth we can be reasonably sure on, the heights are just a guide. Generally, the thicker/older the trunk, the larger the head or crown is.
An interesting evergreen oak, Holm Oak is a conical shaped tree with dark green foliage. It has attractive smooth darkish-grey bark. Early summer marks the arrival of new leaves, which are a silvery-white colour before turning green. Furry golden-yellow coloured catkins are of interest and typical of oak trees, acorns will be formed.
Should you wish to have a life similar to Robin Hood but a little more politically correct e.g. lean more towards the giving and no where near the robbing, then this is a great tree to live in. The all year round leaves provide a great hiding place and you will probably surprise a lot of squirrels which is always great amusement. No need to decorate your place with artificial plants, just bend a branch in to where you are sat. Who knows, you may get to surprise another squirrel.
An attractive tree which will tolerate salt spray and strong winds, and is quite frequently planted as a hedge or in avenues in coastal towns. Expect a final height of 28m (93ft), so unless trimmed, better suited to the larger garden.
Holm Oak is supplied at a height of between 1.25m-175cm in a 5-12L container, which means that the tree has an already established root system and therefore this tree can be planted any time of the year and with better results than either bare-root or root balled trees. Message card included at no additional cost if required.
Should you require more than one tree then you may want to look at our WHOLESALE OAK TREE section. Click OAK HEDGING for the obvious hedging section.
Multiple Order Discount
Orders over £300 can be discounted by contacting us on 0800 043 1057
Ornamental Tree Roots In The Shade e.g. Behind A Fence
It is more important that that foliage (posh term for leaves) receives the sunlight than the roots. So if the canopy of your ornamental tree can sunbathe but the bottom of your tree thinks there has been a nuclear winter then that is ok. You might want to ensure you have good drainage as water and no sun is the start of algae and other such issues.
Early Autumn Leaf Fall
Heat stress, being potted, lack of water, being boxed up for a few days etc can cause early Autumn leaf fall. Once planted, normal service will resume next season.
Do I Need To Stake My Ornamental Tree?
9 out of 10 times the answer will be no, especially if under 200cm tall. However our article on Tree Staking should help guide you.
UK Grown Ornamental Trees
All our trees are banned from overseas travel so that we can state they are all UK grown. We have removed Internet access from the nursery so they cannot book any flights.
Climate Change
Warm and wet conditions from Climate Change have increased aesthetic foliage issues such as Powdery Mildew, Shothole, Rust etc These are not terminal issues and will usually last a season. All trees are inspected before being sent out to ensure they are fundamentally healthy.
Planting In The Corner Of A Garden
Air and light is reduced in this location which could promote fungus and bacterial issues. If the corner is of the house and a fence then you also have leeching issues to contend with from cement and wood preservatives. Also when it rains, that area would experience higher water levels so we advise against it.
