By Julie Christensen
Native to the easterly United States , the inkberry shrub(Ilex glabra)might just be the answer to a job area in your K . This evergreen bush tolerates and even thrives in continually wet soils where other plant fail . It ’s also more disease - resistant and cold - hardy than most holly species and suffers less winter burning than boxwood .
Keep in mind that this is n’t the ripe shrub if you live in a dry mood , and it prefers slightly acidic soil over alkaline soil . It ’s not the secure choice in the Rocky Mountain area , where it may modernise iron greensickness due to the alkaline soil or tolerate from unceasingly dry conditions . But if you hold up in the East or the Pacific Northwest , inkberry will belike thrive in your yard .
CC flickr photo by scott.zona
Planting Inkberry
Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture flora hardiness geographical zone 4 to 9 , inkberry is widely uncommitted in various size at nurseries and home center . It grows best in full sun , although it tolerates partial shade . In its native setting , it is often found as an understory plant in woodlands and woodland . Plant potted flora or balled and burlapped bush in former bounce . prod a hole as thick and double as blanket as the etymon ball . total peat moss to sour slightly alkaline soils and hold wet . off the plant gently from its slew and set it in the hole . fulfil the fix half - full with soil . Add 2 gallons of water and allow the water to drain . fill up the fix with the remaining soil and pack the soil down with your foot .
weewee inkberry shrubs at least once per calendar week or more in juiceless atmospheric condition , especially during the first few weeks after implant . The stain must stick around consistently damp while the shrubs become establish . Fertilize inkberry shrubs in spring with an acidic fertiliser for azaleas according to package direction .
Inkberry can be shear as you would privet or Turkish boxwood to make a formal hedge , but it ’s best go forth as an intimate hedging . cut it in spring just to polish off stagnant branches or branches that chafe against each other . Inkberry scatter through suckering and can rapidly shape colony . dispatch the gull to prevent the bush from overspread out of bounds .
Inkberry bush produce small white flowers in the spring , followed by dark blue or purple berries that persist through winter . The plants are dioecian , meaning that you must have a male plant to pollinate a distaff plant . If you want the shrubs to farm Chuck Berry , be trusted to plant both male and distaff plants .
Pests and Diseases
One of the best thing about inkberry is its resistance to disease and insect pests . With the exception of a few cosmetic leafage spot issues , this shrub rarely suffers from worm and disease trouble . Be sure to keep it watered and establish it in acidic soil and you ’ll rule it ’s a long - lived , low - maintenance shrub .
As the shrubs long time , the leaf at the foot of the plants becomes thin . found small shrubs or perennials in front of evergreen winterberry to hide this defect or pick out a motley such as ‘ Nora ’ that stay full .
Varieties
Always select a cultivar , rather than a species plant . Cultivars are more stocky , less tall-growing and less potential to diffuse . In worldwide , they ’re just better behaved plant . Below are a few to consider :
‘ Compacta ’ is a female plant that grows to 5 feet .
‘ Nordic ’ is a male variety that stay at 4 feet or less . Very dense , compact form and audacious to USDA flora hardiness zona 3 .
‘ Shamrock ’ stick very compact at just 2 feet and has calendered leave and a pleasing form .
For more information about Inkberry , visit the following links :
Ilex Glabrafrom the University of Connecticut Plant Database
Ilex Glabrafrom the Missouri Botanical Garden
Julie Christensen learned about gardening on her grandfather ’s farm and female parent ’s vegetable garden in southern Idaho . Today , she dwell and garden on the high-pitched plains of Colorado . When she ’s not comprehend in the crap , Julie write about intellectual nourishment , instruction , parenting and gardening .
CC Flickr photograph courtesy ofscott.zona .
