inkberry holly vs boxwood

Inkberry holly is deer resistant and evergreen, just like boxwood, but is not susceptible to fungal blight. It grows faster than boxwood, so that lush privacy hedge will take less time to fill in! ... One thing to consider, though, is that these shrubs do prefer a wetter, more acidic site than boxwoods do.

What is a good replacement for boxwoods?

Two species that have the greatest potential to be suitable boxwood substitutes are Ilex crenata, Japanese holly and Ilex glabra, inkberry holly. Both have small, broad, evergreen leaves and dense branching that responds well to being sheared into hedges, globes, and spires.

Is inkberry holly an evergreen?

Ilex glabra, commonly called inkberry or gallberry, is a slow-growing, upright-rounded, stoloniferous, broadleaf evergreen shrub in the holly family. It typically matures to 5-8' tall, and can spread by root suckers to form colonies.

What does inkberry look like?

Inkberry has glossy dark green oval-shaped leaves; greenish-white flowers appear in May and June, giving way to pea-sized black fruits that mature by early fall. ... Inkberry works well in moist locations, such as woodland gardens are around landscape ponds and water features.

Is a boxwood a holly?

Both holly and boxwood flowers are tiny. Boxwood, which has both male and female flowers on the same plant, has chartreuse, star-shaped flowers but does not produce berries. ... Hollies have tiny white flowers and need a separate male and female plant for berries to occur on the female plant.

What is the lifespan of a boxwood?

Common Boxwood Lifespan: 20-30 Years.

What is the best boxwood for a hedge?

If you want a small, compact, low-growing shrub to form a hedge that serves as an accent or border along your walkway, fence line or planting beds, dwarf boxwood varieties are the best pick. The "Dwarf English" boxwood (Buxus sempervirens “Suffruticosa”) creates a border hedge approximately 1 to 2 feet in height.

Is inkberry holly invasive?

Inkberry holly (Ilex glabra) and mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) will tolerate some shade. ... Mountain Laurel- a great native replacement for Barberry, an invasive plant.

Is inkberry holly poisonous to dogs?

It is these berries that contain the toxins, saponins, which can cause many gastrointestinal side effects and may even be fatal in large doses. Luckily, the sharp leaves usually keep dogs from eating a lethal dose. Inkberry plants are not poisonous themselves, but the fruit (berries) are toxic to people and animals.

How do you care for an inkberry holly?

Taking care of inkberries is relatively simple and well within the talents of novice gardeners. Choose a planting spot with acidic soil and full sunlight. Inkberry plants love moist soil with good drainage. Keep the soil moist at all times for the best results.

How do you prune inkberry holly?

In late winter or early spring, cut the entire shrub down so it stands about 18 to 24 inches tall. You might need a pair of loppers or a pruning saw to effectively remove thick stems without tearing them. It might take several years for the inkberry to grow back to its original size, but it will look much healthier.

How fast does Buttonbush grow?

It grows to 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide at full maturity. Growth is moderately fast; expect almost 12 inches per year once established. Growth is moderately fast; expect almost 12 inches per year once established. Leaves emerge in late spring and are glossy green with ovate to elliptic leaf shape.

Is Ilex glabra deer resistant?

Realizing that no plant is deer proof, plants in the Rarely Damaged, and Seldom Severely Damaged categories would be best for landscapes prone to deer damage.
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KEY:

Common Name	Inkberry
Latin Name	Ilex glabra
Type	Shrubs
Rating	B

Do boxwoods smell like urine?

Some people are reporting that their boxwood has a bad odor. More specifically, people complain about boxwood bushes that smell like cat urine. The English boxwood seems to be the main culprit. To be fair, the odor has also been described as resinous, and a resinous scent certainly isn't a bad thing.

Why are boxwoods so expensive?

A few shaped boxwoods can provide the base for a statue or fountain. ... Two downsides hurt boxwoods' appeal: They are slow growers, which makes them expensive in nurseries because of the cost of carrying them for several years until they are big enough to sell.

Is Privet the same as boxwood?

Privet grows more quickly and can be shaped more easily than can boxwood shrubs, for instance. The dense foliage is not evergreen in many climates, making it best suited for summertime-only privacy hedges.

What is the best time to plant boxwoods?

You can plant boxwood in fall, late winter or early spring. Fall often is best for planting to give the roots time to take hold before winter cold sets in. But as long as you avoid planting during the heat of summer or cold of winter, your boxwood should do fine in fall or spring.

Do boxwoods need sun or shade?

They prefer well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. Mulchwith an inch or so of chopped leaves to help keep soil cool (but don't heap mulch against the stems). Once established, boxwood shrubs are very drought-tolerant. Most cultivars will grow in full sun to a half day of shade.

What is the most hardy boxwood?

insularis are considered the hardiest of all boxwood. Buxus semper. virens, common box, is hardy to zone 6 (Krussmann 1984) and has a greater stature than the preceding species. The large, dark green leaves remain evergreen all year.

Do boxwoods stay green all year?

A. Many varieties of boxwood retain their green color during the winter months; others will turn off-color. ... Some boxwoods that are prized for retaining their green color throughout most winters are 'Wintergreen', 'Green Velvet', 'Green Mountain', and 'Glencoe'.

Can you keep a boxwood small?

Miniature boxwoods generally grow wider than their height. Boxwoods such as Buxus microphylla japonica can be kept to 6 inches tall, although this boxwood grows 4 to 6 feet tall when left unclipped. Use the narrower spacing for a 6-inch-high hedge and the wider spacing for 2-foot-tall hedges.

Is Boxwood poisonous to dogs?

A boxwood is a flowering evergreen tree and is most often used in gardens or yards as shrubs or dividers. ... The Boxwood Tree is from the Buxaceae plant family, and contains alkaloids, which are toxic to dogs. While the entire plant is toxic, the leaves are especially poisonous to dogs and other small animals.