Ilex glabra Strongbox® (Inkberry)
Ilex glabra Strongbox® (Inkberry) is an evergreen, stoloniferous shrub of compact, rounded habit with lush foliage of thick, spineless, blue-green leaves. In spring, it produces inconspicuous small greenish-white flowers. Resembling boxwood, this Inkberry is a good substitute as it is resistant to disease, pests, and winter burn. Highly adaptable, its modest size makes it ideal for small gardens or containers.
Ilex glabra Strongbox® (Inkberry) is an evergreen, stoloniferous shrub of compact, rounded habit with lush foliage of thick, spineless, blue-green leaves. In spring, it produces inconspicuous small greenish-white flowers. Resembling boxwood, this Inkberry is a good substitute as it is resistant to disease, pests, and winter burn. Highly adaptable, its modest size makes it ideal for small gardens or containers.
- Slow-growing, this evergreen shrub grows up to 2-3 ft. tall and wide (60-90 cm). Remove root suckers regularly if the colonial spread is not desired.
- Performs best in full sun to part shade in average, medium to wet, well-drained, acidic soils. Tolerates poorly drained soils as well as wet boggy conditions. Does poorly in neutral to alkaline soils and often dies.
- Generally pest and disease free. Deer and rabbit resistant.
- Mass in mixed shrub borders. Perfect for hedges or for foundation plantings. Excellent shrub for wet soils, bog gardens, rain gardens, and along streams or ponds.
- Prune to shape in early spring just before new growth begins.
- Native to North America.
Requirements
| Hardiness | 5 – 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones | 3 – 9 |
| Climate Zones | 2, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Ilex – Hollies |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early,Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)FallWinter |
| Height | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
| Spread | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
| Spacing | 24″ – 36″ (60cm – 90cm) |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
| Tolerance | Clay Soil, Deer, Rabbit, Wet Soil |
| Attracts | Birds |
| Garden Uses | Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Edging, Hedges and Screens, Patio and Containers, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens, Small Gardens |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |