A native of the central western Mediterranean region and the Atlantic coast of Africa, this fairly slow growing evergreen attains heights of up to 20 m and is often as wide. The growth rate and size attained depends largely on soil depth and moisture. It prefers a deep soil but needs good drainage. It requires a sunny position and thrives in poor, acid and sandy soils and is drought tolerant. It is hardy to about - 15oC and tolerates extreme heat. It is best planted where it is to grow as it forms a long tap root (as much as a metre, before showing any signs above the ground of having germinated). This is necessary, if the tree is to be drought resistant. Acorns should never dry out before planting into damp soil. It may be necessary to keep acorns in damp peat under refrigeration until the soil is damp.
The acorn was used as a source of drought food for humans and is highly acclaimed as a stock feed. Acorns are usually roasted for human consumption. One tree in Portugal had a spread of 13 m and yielded some 840 litres of acorns in a single season, enough to feed a pig for 120 days and raise its live weight by 59 kg.
Commercial cork (the outer bark of Q, suber) is harvested in sheets, after about year 20, on a 10 year cycle, for hundreds of years. The average crop of cork in Portugal is around 240 kg/ha/yr (there is the annual pork harvest as well). The highest quality cork is said to come from the dry, rocky soils. The timber qualities of this tree are not highly regarded although the wood does produce a high grade charcoal.