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Shamrock Holly Shrubs for Sale Online
Shamrock ‘Inkberry’ Holly Shrubs feature bright green, glossy, narrow leaves that grow in a shapely oval form. Native to North America’s Florida and Louisiana coastal areas, this shrub thrives in wet to moist soil which makes it perfect for landscapes near ponds, streams, and rain gardens. Ilex glabra Shamrock is one of our best selections for holly!
This shrub prefers partial to full sun and has a moderate growth rate. We recommend pruning this dwarf-female shrub in mid-spring to prepare for the greenish-white flowers that grow in abundance during the spring and summer months. When planted with a dwarf-male Nordic Inkberry Holly Shrub, the white flowers are replaced with black berries during the fall and winter.
Shamrock Inkberry’s compact growth habit and glossy evergreen foliage make it an excellent choice for hedges or border landscaping. Learn how to properly take care of your Ilex Shamrock Holly in the planting information section below.
| Hardiness Zone: | 4 – 9 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 6 to 8 Feet |
| Mature width: | 6 to 8 Feet |
| Classification: | Broad leaved evergreen shrub |
| Sunlight: | Full sun |
| Habit: | Compact |
| Foliage: | Green |
| Flower Color: | White flowers that produce black berries |
| Pruning Season: | Prune in mid to late spring to maintain shape |
| Soil Condition: | Any well drained soil |
| Water Require: | Water well until established |
| Uses: | Extremely attractive when used as in the mixed border, foundations, or planted in mass. Perfect for use as an evergreen privacy screen |
How to Care for Shamrock Holly
Before you buy a Shamrock Holly shrub, make sure to read about the care instructions that are recommended to keep this plant healthy and thriving.
What type of mulch should I use for Shamrock Inkberry Holly?
We highly recommend that you mulch your Ilex glabra Shamrock with either a ground hardwood or cypress mulch depending on your local availability. Any type of mulch will do but cypress or hardwood mulch will be of a higher quality and provide better nutrition overall as they break down. Mulching helps keep weeds away which will compete with your new investment for water and nutrients. A 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch is sufficient, but remember to take care not to cover any part of the stem of the plant with mulch. It's better to leave a one inch gap of space between the mulch and the stem or trunk of the plant.
When should I water Ilex glabra Shamrock?
After planting the Ilex Glabra Shamrock, give it a slow, deep watering. Most of the water you put on the plant at first will run away from the plant until the soil is soaked. A general rule of thumb is to count to 5 for every one gallon of pot size. For example a one gallon pot would be watered until you count to 5, a three gallon pot would be 15, and so on. Check the plant daily for the first week or so and then every other day there after. Water using the counting method for the first few weeks. You’ll want to water the bushes regularly after planting until they’ve been well established. We like to tell folks that when watering Hollies or any plant for that matter it's best not to water the foliage of the plant. Water at the base of the plant near the soil line only. A Treegator Jr. bag can be used to help aid in this process and also provide plants with a good soaking due to the slow release of the water into the root-zone of the plant. Soaker hoses can also be used to water when planting a long hedge.
How do I plant Shamrock Inkberry Holly?
When planting your newly purchased Ilex glabra Shamrock, dig a hole twice as wide as the root system, but not deeper. Depending on the quality of your existing soil you may need to add a locally sourced compost or topsoil to the back-fill soil. We do not recommend using straight topsoil or compost as a back-fill soil because more times than not these products will retain entirely too much moisture and cause the root system to rot. Adding compost or topsoil will help the young feeder roots of Ilex Glabra Shamrock to spread through the loose, nutrient rich soil, much easier than if you used solely the existing soil.
How do I fertilize Shamrock Holly?
Plants such as Ilex glabra Shamrock grow best if they are fertilized once in the spring and again in early summer. Soft Touch holly favors nutrient rich soil and ample fertilization. Ilex glabra Shamrock benefits from a fertilizer which can help raise the acid level of the soil such as Holly-Tone by Espoma. When selecting a fertilizer for your Ilex glabra Shamrock, if the soil pH is not an issue, a simple balanced fertilizer can be used such as Tree-tone. Either chemical fertilizers or organic matter can be used successfully. Since an organic method of applying manure and/or compost around the roots, produces excellent results and also improves the condition of the soil, this would be an excellent first line of attack. Organic additions to the soil can also be combined with a shot of chemical fertilizer for maximum effect.