[2][3][8] Holm oak grows in pure stands or mixed forest in the Mediterranean and often at low or moderate elevations, but also at higher altitudes in the Atlas Mountains.

It is native from westernmost Turkey and through Greece west to parts of the Iberian Peninsula, where it mixes with Q. rotundifolia, along the northern Mediterranean coastal belt, and in the Atlas Mountains in Tunisia and Algeria.

[13] The wood is hard and tough, and has been used since ancient times for general construction purposes as pillars, tools, wagons (as mentioned in Hesiod, Works and Days on page 429), vessels and wine casks.

Many of them were introduced by Mr Thomas Balle (sic), the last of that family who, on returning from the continent, brought with him a quantity of cork, ilex, wainscot, oak; Spanish chestnut, acacia, and other species of exotic trees.

It is thought that this population's propagation (which was established in the late 1800s after having been planted by Victorian residents) has been bolstered by native Eurasian jays (Garrulus glandarius), which harvest acorns from oak trees and store them by burying them in the ground where they may then germinate.

Its size and solid evergreen character gives it an imposing architectural presence that makes it valuable in many urban and garden settings.

[24] The oldest holm oak in Spain, the Encina Tres Patas de Mendaza, located in Navarre, is reputed to be 1,200 years old.

[26] Several holm oaks sit atop the 45 metre (148 ft) tall, 14th century Guinigi Tower in Lucca, Italy, making it a notable tourist attraction for the city.

The Roman poet Horace predicted that the ilex growing on his farm would become famous when he included it in his hymn to the Spring of Bandusia there (Odes 3.13.12–16): fies nobilium tu quoque fontium, me dicente cavis impositam ilicem saxis, unde loquaces lymphae desiliunt tuae.