Holm Oak

Holm oak keeps its leaves when every survival instinct says to drop them. In Mediterranean summers where months pass without rain, most trees go dormant or shed foliage to conserve water. Holm oak stays green, photosynthesizing year-round through leathery, waxy leaves that minimize water loss. It trades efficiency for continuity - always producing, never fully resting.

This evergreen strategy requires massive root infrastructure. Holm oak roots extend laterally up to three times the crown radius, mining moisture from a huge soil volume. The deep taproot accesses groundwater while shallow lateral roots capture any rainfall before it drains away. The tree essentially maintains two water-gathering systems for different precipitation scenarios.

Holm oak's evergreen persistence creates ecosystem stability. In dehesa and montado landscapes - traditional Mediterranean silvopastoral systems - holm oaks provide year-round shade for livestock, acorns for Iberian pigs, and habitat continuity for wildlife. The tree's refusal to go dormant makes it the anchor species around which entire agricultural systems organize.

The business parallel is maintaining operations when competitors shut down. Companies that can serve customers year-round, through recessions and slow seasons, become infrastructure that others depend on. The cost is higher - you're paying to stay open when revenues are low - but the strategic position compounds. Holm oak teaches that the premium for continuous availability is paid in infrastructure investment, but collected in customer dependency and ecosystem centrality.