Squeeze Box™ Inkberry Holly

Size

With its small, yet pyramidal and upright form, the Squeeze Box™ Inkberry Holly is perfect for adding structure and height to the garden. Being an evergreen, it holds on to its attractive dark green and glossy foliage all year round and provides interest, even in a winter garden. The Squeeze Box™ Inkberry Holly grows to just 4 to 6 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide and is the first holly with a pyramidal form. This Ilex glabra is a male cultivar that will help pollinate female types like Gem Box® and Strongbox® hollies grown nearby. This Squeeze Box™ Inkberry Holly is easy to grow and is a low-maintenance shrub. As a deer-resistant inkberry, it is ideal for growing in both rural and urban landscapes. Native to North America, this shrub is suitable for growing in USDA zones 5 through 9. Whether used as a focal point in beds or borders, grown to form a small hedge, or planted in a container, it will add interest all year long. Squeeze Box™ Inkberry Holly Care The Squeeze Box™ Inkberry Holly grows best in full sun to partial shade. When it comes to planting, this inkberry holly prefers slightly acidic, fertile soil that is moist; it can even cope with wet soils. Hence, it is not surprising that regular watering is required, especially while it is getting established. To encourage fresh new growth and to keep the soil acidic, an ericaceous plant fertilizer can be applied in spring. Being low maintenance, Squeeze Box™ requires minimal or no pruning. However, you can lightly shape this inkberry in early spring if desired. To help conserve moisture, an annual mulch of coniferous bark can be applied around the base of the tree in spring. When container grown, more frequent watering will be necessary than when grown directly in the ground. Squeeze Box™ Inkberry Holly Spacing With a spread of around 2 to 3 feet over time, this shrub can be planted out at a spacing of 2 to 4 feet depending on how closely they are to knit together over time. If grown in a container, annual repotting is advisable to accommodate its height and root ball size until mature.