Quercus suber (Cork oak)

Another native of the Mediterranean basin, this interesting evergreen oak would be a curiosity in a sunny, sheltered garden and seems to benefit from a good amount of humidity. Requires soil which is non-chalky and it will not tolerate a winter temperature which is consistently below -5degC. The small, leathery, dark-green leaves are silvery underneath and the most distinctive feature is the thick corky bark which develops with age.