By Nanjo
WITNEY,
United Kingdom 
Can anyone help with the identification of this plant/tree please. It belongs to my friend and she has no idea what it is. It has very shiny leaves that are pointed and the new growth that looks like flowers are more like soft leaves. It's about 2ft tall.
12 Jun, 2013
Answers
That's what I thought too.
12 Jun, 2013
Thank you both, now you said that the leaves are similar to a Mahonia I used to have..
12 Jun, 2013
It's an evergreen oak, Quercus ilex. Seeds everywhere and can grow very quickly into a monster. Lovely trees in big parks but now on the official invasive species list
12 Jun, 2013
If it developes acorn like seeds, it's a quercus ilex, if not, it is likely a mahonia.
12 Jun, 2013
As Andy says, quercus ilex, the holly oak.
12 Jun, 2013
Thank you all, I will let her know.. I think she will be finding it a new home as she only has a back yard !!
15 Jun, 2013
It might be a mahonia - don't know which one, I'm afraid.
Mahonia japonica?
12 Jun, 2013