This will encourage them to grow outward instead of continuing to grow in a circular pattern. When another flush of new growth occurs in fall and the weather is still relatively warm, don’t be tempted to prune your holly again. Find plants you love and create idea boards for all your projects. Set the plant in the hole, making sure that the top of the rootball is level with the top of the surrounding soil. Upright branches are covered with leathery, dark green leaves. Light Needs. Prune to shape in late winter. Gem Box holly is ideal for anyone who wishes to grow low-maintenance evergreen shrubs in sun or partly sunny spaces. Strongbox® is more squat and “tuna can”-shaped than Gem Box, which is more of a globe. Gem Box® was selected for its dense, compact habit, boxwood-like appearance, red leaf tips in spring, and ability to spread less than the species. Compact Inkberry Ilex glabra 'Compacta' Sku #4502. Close × Share This Page. Standing 2-3 foot tall and wide, this compact broad leaf evergreen forms a dense ball shaped mound. Click on 'Contact' if you would like written directions to our location. The tighter the shape, the more formal the look. Native boxwood alternative. An Easy Native Alternative to Boxwood. This cool new dwarf, broadleaf evergreen looks more like a boxwood than an inkberry. Browse pictures and read growth / cultivation information about Inkberry Holly, Gallberry (Ilex glabra) 'Gem Box' supplied by member gardeners in the PlantFiles database at Dave's Garden. It's an easy-care plant that is grown for foliage, attractive white flowers, and even winter berries. Shear it into shape or enjoy its naturally rounded form. Low-maintenance evergreen with native roots, Naturally maintains a dense, ball-shaped form, Small, dark green leaves shine in every season, Tiny white spring flowers attract pollinators. A dense, compact shrub with small dark green leaves, the Gem Box® Holly is the ideal substitute for your typical plant bed boxwood. It is smaller in size, with a compact, rounded overall form. At first glance, it’s tough to tell the two evergreens apart—both have tiny, dark green leaves and a rounded shape. This cool new dwarf, broadleaf evergreen looks more like a boxwood than an inkberry. Just keep in mind that this zone 5 hardy shrub is easiest to overwinter in containers in zones 7-9. Gem Box is a disease resistant, native alternative that can give you the same look and be used in all the same ways—hedges, foundations, borders, containers and more. Also known as the Inkberry Holly, it develops attractive red tips during the spring and requires virtually no upkeep. Lastly, water the plant again to help the soil settle. There are small white flowers in the spring, followed by dark berries in the fall. Ilex glabra 'SMNIGAB17' Add To My Wish List . It is Proven Winners® Color Choice® shrub. Thrives in moist soils and is shade tolerant. If you must prune your hollies in fall, do so once the weather has cooled down significantly and the plant is no longer actively growing. That said, we know some people love to prune their shrubs! ©2020 Proven Winners. Gem Box® Inkberry Holly will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. General Information Gem Box Holly is a evergreen shrub. Cottage Hill Holly Inkberry 'Nigra' - 1 … Though it looks different than what you might traditionally think of as holly, Gem Box truly is a holly. If you love the look of boxwood hedges but need something easier to maintain, or prefer shrubs with native roots, Gem Box inkberry holly is a perfect choice. Standing just 2-3’ tall, Gem Box holly fits neatly under window ledges without blocking the view. All Rights Reserved. Apply an evergreen fertilizer in spring. Where Gem Box pulls ahead is in its strong disease resistance and naturally neat habit that doesn’t require shearing to keep its shape. $1.29 shipping. It enjoys moist soils. GEM BOX® has dainty, dark green evergreen foliage that will show burgundy colors on the new growth. Find out where you fall in the USDA Hardiness Zones database. Evergreen foliage retains its color all year, and berries attract birds to your landscape. Plants can naturalize via roots. A hardy evergreen with a naturally rounded shape and a small mature size. If you are planting a new garden or renovating the one you have, consider this beautiful, easy plant. If you love the look of Prefers moist acidic soils. Gem Box® Inkberry Holly (Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder) Height: 3 feet. Gem Box is a disease resistant, evergreen holly that maintains its classy good looks year-round. To create an idea board, sign in or create an account. Think about how you or your neighbors use boxwood in the garden. It is similar in appearance to a boxwood, making it a nice alternative in some areas. If you do, it will stimulate more soft new growth which will likely be killed back in winter. A great alternative to boxwood! It also performs beautifully in full sun all day long. The Gem Box® Inkberry Holly grows well in both full sun and partial shade, with some direct sun each day. Ilex glabra Proven Winners® Color Choice® Gem Box® PP27554 'SMNIGAB17' Inkberry. Gem Box® Inkberry Holly will tolerate several hours of shade a day. Evergreen. If the roots are densely circled around when you take the plant out of the pot, loosen them up a bit to break the “root memory”. GEM BOX®, an Inkberry Holly, is the perfect alternative. Ilex glabra 'Gem Box'. When planting, dig the hole about twice as wide but just as deep as the container it is growing in. Gem Box Inkberry Holly General Information. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. Use these convenient icons … Strongbox® inkberry holly (Ilex glabra) is yet another innovative boxwood alternative from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs. https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/ilex/gem-box-inkberry-holly-ilex-glabra Then backfill the hole with the soil you dug out. It has a good deal of ornamental appeal. You get the look of a classic boxwood with the benefits of a holly. An excellent hedge or border plant that tolerates a variety of conditions, even warm humidity. This variety never gets leggy. When you shear it that time of year, it will remain that size for most of the rest of the season. Gem Box holly will naturally keep its dense, ball-shaped form without pruning. If you wish to trim or prune it, do so in … Lush, deep green, and disease resistant, this plant offers huge potential for the landscape market and home owners alike. How to Trim Inkberry Bushes. Find locations near you that offer Proven Winners products. Gem Box holly will thrive in any amount of sunlight except deep shade, so choose a spot that sees at least four hours of direct sun per day. $36.98 $ 36. Two neat little Inkberry Holly selections from Proven Winners. 00. Deer and rabbit resistant and no major disease or insect issues. Ilex Compacta Holly, 2.25 Gal. It has shallow roots, so a 2-3" layer of mulch is a good idea. This cool new dwarf, broadleaf evergreen looks more like a boxwood than an inkberry. $43.00 $ 43. With little effort, this dwarf inkberry holly makes a really nice low growing hedge along sidewalks and driveways. As such, it shares a love of moist, acidic soil. With its squat, rounded habit, handsome evergreen foliage, and full, dense branching, Strongbox ® inkberry is a welcome alternative to boxwood. Only 10 left in stock - order soon. Gem Box® Inkberry Holly . The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours). The products I use - https://kit.com/HortTube This video is a detailed description of Inkberry Hollies. Brand: Proven Winners. Press it down with your hand firmly to eliminate any big air pockets around the roots. Gem Box® Ilex glabra ‘SMNIGAB17’ USPP27554 Can5629. A dense, ball-shaped plant, Gem Box ilex has small, dainty, dark green leaves with attractive red tips during the spring flush. There are small white flowers … Thrives in areas that receive full sun, and requires semi-moist soil for healthy plant growth. Get it as soon as Thu, Oct 29. Good shade tolerance. ​ × New and Unread Tree-Mails. As with any holly, full sun and well drained soil is a good idea. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. As the new growth matures, it darkens in color and the stems stiffen. Little care is needed to enjoy Strongbox inkberry holly in your landscape. All rights reserved. A great alternative to boxwood! Description. Broad-leaf evergreen shrubs like Gem Box holly flush out in spring with a set of beautiful, soft new foliage that covers the entire plant. A dense, ball-shaped plant, Gem Box ilex has small, dainty, dark green leaves with attractive red tips during the spring flush. That’s when a taller evergreen hedge, like those made of North Pole® arborvitae, is layered behind a shorter hedge of boxwood, yews or inkberry holly like Gem Box. By using Gem Box, you’ll cut down on the necessary shearing time tremendously. It grows best in moist, acidic soils, and it should not be planted in … It is similar in appearance to a boxwood, making it a nice alternative in some areas. About Gem Box® Inkberry. Full sun. A type of holly, inkberry bush (Ilex glabra) is noted for its dark black berries that help beautify the garden through the winter. 98. Withstands heavy pruning quite well. © 2020 Proven Winners North America LLC. Spread: 3 feet. The best time to prune is soon after that new spring growth has finished emerging. Densa Inkberry Ilex glabra 'Densa' Sku #0762. It maintains good branching right to the ground so it never looks bare-legged like other cultivars may. Enjoy it in foundation plantings, as a low hedge and as an accent evergreen. However, there are no compatible males currently on the market to ensure the cross pollination required for fruit to form. If that sounds like you, a pair of electric hedge trimmers is the easiest tool for the job. That makes it even more versatile to use near ornamental trees, patios, and foundations. Compact inkberry foundation and hedge shrub is ideal for beds and borders. Gem Box Inkberry Holly - 4" Pot - Ilex - Proven Winners. This cool new dwarf, broadleaf evergreen looks more like a boxwood than an inkberry. Its smaller size also makes it easy to grow in large containers. While some types of evergreen shrubs require annual pruning, Gem Box naturally maintains its densely rounded shape. Gem Box Holly is a evergreen shrub. Gem Box Holly is a another new and very nice replacement plant for both dwarf boxwood and Soft Touch Holly. How would a pair of Gem Box hollies in large containers look flanking your front entry? Go ahead and shear it into a smaller ball, box or tuna can. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle® newsletter. It is smaller in size, with a compact, rounded overall form. Double hedges are popular in many parts of the country. ​ Gem Box’s native roots help it to be durable and dependable in the landscape, so you can enjoy it for decades to come. Black, berry-like fruit is produced fall through spring. 3.0 out of 5 stars 1. Plant database entry for Inkberry (Ilex glabra Gem Box®) with 31 data details. Think about where you could use an evergreen hedge to define a border, line a pathway, or fill in under the windows at your home’s foundation. A dense, ball-shaped plant, Gem Box ilex has small, dainty, dark green leaves with attractive red tips during the spring flush. Like its sister plant Gem Box® inkberry holly, it’s a native evergreen with a neat, dense habit that looks like boxwood but is more durable and disease resistant. Double hedges make outstanding formal foundation or property line plantings. Gem Box® Inkberry Holly. Our staff is a diverse group of Certified Horticulturists, ready to assist you in a knowledgeable way. Container specimen in milder climates which is more of a Holly the job in containers in 7-9... A good idea entry for Inkberry ( Ilex glabra 'SMNIGAB17 ' Inkberry ) with 31 data details, Box! A good idea growing in more like a boxwood, making it a nice alternative some... 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