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Squeeze Box® Inkberry holly Ilex glabra

Flower Season
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter
Mature Size
6' 3' 1.8m 91cm
Height: 4' - 6'
Spread: 2' - 3'
Height: 1.2m - 1.8m
Spread: 61cm - 91cm
New Plant
  • Details

    48 - 72 Inches
    24 - 36 Inches
    24 - 36 Inches
    1.2m - 1.8m
    61cm - 91cm
    61cm - 91cm

    Features

    Finally, a tall, upright inkberry holly! Squeeze Box® inkberry holly (Ilex glaba) is perfect for bringing height and a touch of formality to your garden or landscape. This native evergreen naturally grows with an upright pyramidal shape that can be used for a handsome specimen, unique hedge, or any where you need year-round height and color. Now are you ready for the really great news? Squeeze Box inkberry holly is a male plant that can be used to pollinate Gem Box and Strongbox inkberry hollies so that they develop the blue-black fruits that are inkberry holly's namesake. 

    Top reasons to grow Squeeze Box inkberry holly:
    - The only inkberry holly with an upright pyramidal shape

    - Evergreen and native to North America

    - Male variety can be used to pollinate Gem Box and Strongbox inkberry hollies

    Foliage Interest
    Winter Interest
    Heat Tolerant
    Salt Tolerant
    Attracts: 
    Bees
    Resists: 
    Deer
    Native to North America

    Characteristics

    Plant Type: 
    Shrub
    Shrub Type: 
    Evergreen
    Height Category: 
    Medium
    Garden Height: 
    48 - 72 Inches 1.2m - 1.8m
    Spacing: 
    24 - 36 Inches 61cm - 91cm
    Spread: 
    24 - 36 Inches 61cm - 91cm
    Flower Colors: 
    White
    Foliage Colors: 
    White
    Foliage Shade: 
    Green
    Habit: 
    Upright
    Container Role: 
    Thriller

    Plant Needs

    Light Requirement: 
    Part Shade
    Light Requirement: 
    Part Sun to Sun
    Light Requirement: 
    Sun

    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).

    Maintenance Category: 
    Easy
    Blooms On: 
    Old Wood
    Bloom Time: 
    Late Spring
    Hardiness Zones: 
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
    Water Category: 
    Average
    Uses: 
    Good for Screening
    Uses: 
    Landscape
    Uses: 
    Specimen or Focal Point
    Uses Notes: 

    Squeeze Box inkberry holly is a male variety. It will not develop fruit, but if planted within 50'/15m of a female inkberry holly like Gem Box or Strongbox, they will develop berries. Squeeze Box can also be enjoyed on its own as a specimen, hedge plant, or garden plant. Its upright habit makes a great structure for holiday lights, too.

    Maintenance Notes: 

    Inkberry holly is not drought tolerant, and does best in soils with consistent moisture. Can tolerate occasional periods of wet soil.

    If you wish to prune, do so after it blooms in late spring. 

    Inkberry hollies make an excellent native alternative to boxwood. However, they are not quite as shade tolerant nor as deer resistant as boxwood is, so should be treated accordingly.

    Nothing special is required in terms of fertilizer - one application of a granular (not liquid) fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs in early spring is sufficient. May be fertilized monthly from early spring through late July if desired.

    Squeeze Box® Ilex glabra 'SMNIGLA' USPP 35,019, Can PBRAF
  • 1 Review

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    Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.
    • Planted these last year and they have survived drought and deep freeze and are off to a great start this spring! Looking forward to them growing larger and taking on more of their pyramidal shape. Can't wait to see how these allow my inkberry hollies to show off their berries, too

      Brad
      , Tennessee
      , United States
      , 28 weeks ago
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