Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Description:

A highly desirable and versatile evergreen landscape shrub, featuring small glossy leaves and a naturally dense, compact form; a perfect substitute for boxwood, it can be used in the garden or for hedging, massing and topiary; takes pruning very well

Ornamental Features

Forever Emerald™ Inkberry Holly has dark green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring on a plant with a round habit of growth. The small glossy oval leaves remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Forever Emerald™ Inkberry Holly is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Suckering

Forever Emerald™ Inkberry Holly is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Topiary

Planting & Growing

Forever Emerald™ Inkberry Holly will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.