Happy Holidays. Help ID this plant. I'm in the Bay Area, California. It grows near the base of other trees/plants, the roots are incredibly thick, and it grows quickly. I'm constantly trying to cut them in my yard.

Google Images search comes up with Holly or Oak. I don't think it's either. Thank you!

Looks like Quercus ilex.
An oak tree with leaves like holly.

It will have been dropped or plants as an acorn.
You will need to dig down and remove as much a possible below the ground level.

Hi triiiangle,

Possibly shoots coming from a nearby tree. Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) and California Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) might be found in California.

The problem with oaks is they grow a tap root over 3 ft. long before they ever grow any top. By cutting it off, you are encouraging it. Dig down to below where the acorn was attached (it will look like a little joint or elbow) and cut below that. Oaks won't come back from roots. Good Luck!

Oh, yeah! A Holly Oak so the app was completely right I had a huge one as a street tree and every year it was a mess when the acorns dropped and then the rest of the year removing little baby oak trees. If you can get them when they're less than a foot tall they're much easier to pull.

Thank you so much for all the help!

I thought it was some kind of invasive, super-adapted weed. It's kind of reassuring to learn that they are baby oaks.

If you had ever lived in an oak forest, you would know they are some kind of invasive super-adaptive weed.