Images Depict Mature Plants
Compact Inkberry Holly
Ilex glabra 'Compacta'
Compact Inkberry Holly features dense, glossy green foliage and a naturally rounded growth habit, making it perfect for low hedges, borders, and foundation plantings. Its deer-resistant quality and adaptability to different soil types make it an easy-care, year-round choice for enhancing landscape structure and beauty.
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Compact Inkberry Holly for Sale Online
Compact Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra 'Compacta') is a versatile evergreen shrub known for its dense, rounded form and glossy, dark green foliage that remains vibrant throughout the year. Growing to a mature height of 4 to 5 feet, with a similar spread, Compact Inkberry Holly is ideal for foundation plantings, borders, and low hedges. Its fine-textured, boxwood-like leaves make it a popular choice for creating a formal look in garden beds, while the natural compact growth habit requires minimal pruning to maintain its attractive, neat shape.
Compact Inkberry Holly thrives in USDA zones 4-9, adapting well to both full sun and partial shade, and prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soil. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil types, including sandy and clay soils, making it a versatile choice for various garden settings. In spring, Compact Inkberry Holly produces small, white flowers that attract pollinators, followed by dark berries that persist through fall, providing additional visual interest and food for birds. Its adaptability and low maintenance requirements make it a reliable option for adding structure and year-round greenery to your landscape.
In addition to its attractive appearance, Compact Inkberry Holly is deer-resistant, which is particularly useful for gardeners in areas prone to deer browsing. The shrub's resilience to pests, diseases, and varying soil conditions further enhances its appeal as a low-maintenance, dependable evergreen for a wide range of landscape uses. Whether used as a standalone specimen, planted in mass for a dense hedge, or added to a mixed border, Compact Inkberry Holly offers the perfect combination of beauty, hardiness, and functionality for any garden design.
| Hardiness Zone: | 4-9 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 4 to 5 Feet |
| Mature width: | 4 to 5 Feet |
| Classification: | Broad leaved evergreen shrub |
| Sunlight: | Full sun |
| Habit: | Densely branched, upright |
| Foliage: | Green |
| Flower Color: | White |
| Pruning Season: | Prune in late spring to maintain shape |
| Soil Condition: | Any well drained soil |
| Water Require: | Water well until established |
| Uses: | Mixed border, foundations, privacy screen, or planted in mass |
How to Care for Compact Inkberry Holly
Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy Compact Inkberry Holly for years to come!
How Do I Plant a Compact Inkberry Holly?
To plant a Compact Inkberry Holly, begin by selecting a location that receives full sun to partial shade and has well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and equal in depth, allowing ample room for root development. Carefully place the shrub in the hole, ensuring that the top of the root ball is level with or slightly above the surrounding soil to promote proper drainage and prevent root rot. Backfill with a mixture of native soil and compost to improve soil quality and help the roots establish effectively. After planting, water thoroughly to eliminate air pockets and settle the soil around the roots. Adding a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the base of the shrub will help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature, but keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot. When planting multiple Compact Inkberry Holly shrubs to create a hedge or border, space them approximately 3 to 4 feet apart to allow for even growth and proper air circulation. This spacing ensures that the plants have enough room to grow together, forming a dense and attractive hedge without becoming overcrowded. During the first growing season, provide consistent watering to keep the soil evenly moist, which is essential for establishing a strong root system. Over time, Compact Inkberry Holly will become more tolerant of different soil conditions and will require less frequent watering. By following these planting guidelines, your Compact Inkberry Holly will thrive, creating a lush, evergreen addition to your landscape with minimal maintenance.
How Do I Water a Compact Inkberry Holly?
To properly water a Compact Inkberry Holly, focus on deep and consistent watering, especially during the first year after planting to help establish a strong root system. Water the shrub deeply once a week, ensuring that the soil is moistened to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, which encourages the roots to grow deeply and become more drought-tolerant over time. During periods of extreme heat or drought, increase the watering frequency to prevent the soil from drying out completely, as Compact Inkberry Holly prefers consistently moist conditions. When watering, always aim at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, as excess moisture on leaves can increase the risk of fungal diseases. Adding a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the base will help retain soil moisture and reduce the need for frequent watering. Once Compact Inkberry Holly is well-established, it becomes more tolerant of occasional dry spells and requires less frequent watering. However, during prolonged dry periods or high temperatures, it is important to provide supplemental deep watering every 10 to 14 days to maintain its lush, vibrant foliage. Regularly check the soil moisture by digging a few inches down—if the soil feels dry, it's time to water. It is also crucial to avoid overwatering, as Compact Inkberry Holly can suffer from root rot if the soil remains too wet. Proper watering practices will help ensure that your Compact Inkberry Holly remains healthy and retains its attractive, glossy green foliage, providing year-round beauty and structure to your garden.
How Do I Fertilize a Compact Inkberry Holly?
To fertilize a Compact Inkberry Holly, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring, just before new growth begins. A fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 is ideal for promoting healthy root development, dense growth, and vibrant green foliage. Spread the fertilizer evenly around the base of the shrub, keeping it at least a few inches away from the trunk to prevent root burn. After applying the fertilizer, water thoroughly to help the nutrients penetrate the soil and reach the root zone. This early feeding will provide the essential nutrients that your Compact Inkberry Holly needs to support lush, vigorous growth throughout the growing season. For ongoing health, you may choose to give Compact Inkberry Holly an additional light feeding in mid-summer, particularly if it is planted in nutrient-poor soil or shows signs of slow growth. Organic compost or well-rotted manure can also be applied around the base of the shrub to improve soil structure and provide slow-release nutrients. Be careful not to over-fertilize, as this can lead to excessive growth, making the shrub more vulnerable to pests and disease. By following a consistent fertilization schedule, your Compact Inkberry Holly will maintain its dense, compact shape and glossy foliage, adding long-lasting beauty and structure to your landscape.
How Do I Prune a Compact Inkberry Holly?
To prune a Compact Inkberry Holly, begin by performing light pruning in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This timing allows the shrub to recover quickly and ensures healthy and vigorous growth throughout the season. Start by using clean, sharp pruning shears to remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches to improve airflow and promote overall plant health. Compact Inkberry Holly has a naturally rounded growth habit, so it requires minimal shaping—light pruning is sufficient to maintain its neat and compact form. Trim back any wayward branches to preserve a uniform appearance, making it perfect for use as a low hedge, foundation planting, or part of a mixed border. If necessary, you can perform light maintenance pruning throughout the growing season to maintain the desired shape of your Compact Inkberry Holly. Avoid heavy pruning late in the season, as this can stimulate new growth that may not harden before winter and could become damaged by frost. When pruning, it is essential not to remove more than one-third of the plant at a time, as excessive pruning can stress the shrub and reduce its resilience. With regular, minimal pruning, Compact Inkberry Holly will retain its dense, rounded shape and glossy green foliage, providing year-round interest and structure to your garden with minimal maintenance.
