Welcome to our Plant Library! This is a new feature on our website to showcase the vast selection of plants that we carry across different seasons. We are continuously adding products, so if you are looking for a specific plant not listed below, we encourage you to call or visit to see if we have it in stock!
Inkberry Holly
Botanical Name: Ilex glabra
Common Name: Inkberry Holly
Mature Height and Width: 5–8′ tall × 5–8′ wide (species); compact cultivars vary from 3–4′ tall
Growth Habit: Rounded, upright native evergreen shrub with fine branching. Naturally somewhat open at maturity unless maintained or selected cultivar is used. Tends to sucker slowly over time, forming colonies in natural settings.
Foliage Description: Narrow, oblong, spineless dark green leaves with a smooth margin. Leaves are concentrated toward stem tips, giving older plants a slightly looser interior unless pruned. Evergreen in Zones 5–7.
Flower Description: Small white spring flowers; not ornamentally significant. Female plants produce small black berries that persist into winter and provide wildlife value.
Bloom Time: Late spring
Fall Color: Evergreen; maintains deep green foliage through winter.
Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; adaptable to wet soils and tolerates periodic flooding once established.
Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 4–9
Notable Landscape Uses:
Native foundation plantings; rain gardens; wetland edge plantings; mass plantings; naturalized borders; low evergreen hedges (when pruned); coastal landscapes; wildlife-friendly gardens.
Deer Resistance: Moderate
Inkberry is not typically a preferred browse species, though deer may sample new growth under pressure. Mature plants generally sustain minimal long-term damage in Zones 5–7.