Ilex spp.

Plantaerium

Add some winter interest to the landscape with ‘Compacta’ Ilex glabra . This North American native is a nice alternative to boxwood. ‘Compacta' inkberry holly is a broadly pyramidal plant with glossy dark green evergreen foliage. Its branching is compact right to the ground for a dense, full appearance. In the fall, this female variety will bear black berries if a male inkberry is in the vicinity. Whether you use it for hedges, borders, or mass plantings, ‘Compacta’ inkberry holly provides year-round interest in the garden.

Plantaerium

Super dense and with a broad, upright habit, Hedge Box Japanese holly ( Ilex crenata) is the perfect evergreen for narrow, space-saving hedges– with no worries about blight or moths like boxwood. Not only is this selection fast-growing enough to be profitable, but it also has flat leaves, which make it inhospitable to spider mites compared to the usual spoon-shaped foliage of the species. It has demonstrated excellent hardiness here in our Michigan trial garden.

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Winterberry is unmatched for winter interest, but many homeowners don't have room for a traditional variety. Enter Berry Poppins®: an excellent, heavy fruiting dwarf cultivar. Ideal for those who want bright winter color and fruit for cutting but don't have room for a conventional I. verticillata. It is heavier fruiting than 'Red Sprite'. For berries on this female selection, a male pollinator is required; use Mr. Poppins® winterberry holly. Fruit is not edible.

Plantaerium

Filters: Botanical genus: Ilex , Common name: Holly - Winterberry , Retail program: Proven Winners® ColorChoice® , USDA Zone 3 , USDA Zone 4 , USDA Zone 5 , USDA Zone 6 , USDA Zone 7 , USDA Zone 8 , USDA Zone 9 , Exposure: Full sun , Exposure: Part sun , Bloom time: Spring , White flowers , Green foliage

Plantaerium

Stronger growing than 'Sky Pencil'. Add some architecture to your garden or decorative container with narrow, conical Sky Box ® holly. Shiny, dark evergreen leaves and tight upright branching make this cultivar as handsome as it is versatile. Please note: this is the same plant that has been sold as Sky Pointer ® ; it has been renamed to Sky Box to designate it as a boxwood alternative.

Plantaerium

Castle Rouge blue holly ( Ilex × meserveae ) is the biggest thing to happen to blue holly since Kathleen Meserve made the first crosses of Ilex aquifolium and Ilex rugosa back in the 1950s. All season long, its new growth emerges a glossy red-burgundy color for spectacular effect, and once winter comes, the whole plant turns a deep, dark burgundy. It's a male and will serve to pollinate the rest of the Castle series as well as other blue hollies, but unlike conventional male hollies, this one is handsome enough to give pride of place in the landscape.

Plantaerium

The Castle ™ series brings compact, pyramidal forms to the world of blue holly. Their dark glossy leaves, superior vigor and branching make them an improvement over other older varieties. Narrow form makes them great for hedges, foundation plantings, or even as a dramatic specimen. The lustrous green foliage provides season long interest. Castle Spire ® is a female variety with a strongly narrow, pyramidal habit. Sets abundant fruit when pollinated by Castle Wall ® holly.

Plantaerium

The Castle™ series brings compact, pyramidal forms to the world of blue holly. Their dark glossy leaves, superior vigor and branching make them an improvement over other older varieties. Narrow form makes them great for hedges, foundation plantings, or even as a dramatic specimen. The lustrous green foliage provides season long interest. Though it is handsome enough to be used on its own, Castle Wall ® is a male pollinator for Castle Spire ® and Castle Keep ® hollies.

Plantaerium

With its squat, rounded habit, handsome evergreen foliage, and full, dense branching, Strongbox ® inkberry is a welcome alternative to boxwood. Lush, deep green, and disease resistant, this plant offers huge potential for the landscape market and home owners alike. Stays green and well-branched right to the ground. Native to North America and highly adaptable.

Plantaerium

Glow Pop Japanese holly ( Ilex crenata ) is an irresistible dwarf broadleaf evergreen, with a tidy, compact habit and vivid golden foliage that won't burn, even in sun. And great news for growers, it boasts a growth rate that's fast enough to be a viable addition to your product line! Female variety will set black fruit if a male pollinator is present.

Plantaerium

Glow Stick Japanese holly ( Ilex crenata ) brings year-round structure and color to landscapes and gardens. It naturally grows as a narrow column, just 1' wide, for practically limitless landscape possibilities. Bright golden foliage has shown no signs of sunburn or winter damage, even in full sun conditions. An excellent space-saver for small landscapes, plus it's far more stable than other upright yellow Japanese hollies. No worries about reversion! Female variety will set black fruit if a male pollinator is present.

Plantaerium

Long a favorite during its evaluations, Castle Keep® blue holly has the classic good looks of this handsome evergreen but with soft-to-the-touch deep green foliage. This blue holly adds interest to the winter landscape and provides a food source for birds. The semi-dwarf rounded habit makes it a versatile choice for landscapes, perfect for hedges, screens, or as a specimen. Castle Keep® Ilex x meserveae is a female variety that will develop red fruit if a male pollinator like Castle Wall® holly is planted nearby. The bright berries are a classic addition to cut flower or holiday arrangements.

Plantaerium

Gem Box® inkberry holly is a dense, ball-shaped plant with small dark green leaves. Foliage develops attractive red tips during the spring flush. Maintains good branching right to the ground so it never looks bare-legged like other cultivars can. As versatile and good-looking as boxwood with no disease issues!

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We're on a quest for continuous improvement on all types of shrubs, and this updated version of Gem Box ® inkberry holly improves on the original version with a denser habit and branching even lower to the ground. Gem Box Prime ® Ilex glabra makes a better container for the grower and retailer, and a better plant for the landscape. Its handsome evergreen foliage, disease resistance, and compact habit make it an excellent native alternative to boxwood. Use Gem Box Prime ® inkberry holly in all the ways a boxwood would be used in the landscape, like hedging, foundation planting, edging, or in containers. Note to growers: proper spacing in production ensures a full, lush plant.

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The first-ever upright, pyramidal inkberry, this holly greatly expands the options for landscapers and gardeners who look to Ilex glabra for a native evergreen. Use it as a specimen, a replacement for dwarf Alberta spruce, a narrow hedge, or a formal centerpiece in containers. It's also a long-awaited male selection, so it will serve to pollinate Gem Box ® and Strongbox ® hollies, fulfilling a request we've been hearing from home gardeners and landscapers since their introduction.

Plantaerium

Filters: Botanical genus: Ilex , Common name: Holly - Inkberry , Retail program: Local Roots® , USDA Zone 5 , USDA Zone 6 , USDA Zone 7 , USDA Zone 8 , USDA Zone 9 , Exposure: Full sun , Exposure: Part sun , Bloom time: Spring , White flowers , Green foliage

Plantaerium

Brighten up the winter landscape with Berry Heavy® winterberry holly. This North American native shrub produces copious amounts of bright red berries to be enjoyed in fall and winter. The berries are not edible for humans, but birds will happily scoop them up when they soften in winter. Berry Heavy® winterberry holly attracts an abundance of pollinators, but deer aren’t interested in it. Use in mass plantings, wildlife gardens, or native gardens for a truly eye-catching winter display. The vibrant fruit looks great in floral and holiday arrangements. Berry Heavy® Ilex verticillata is a female selection and requires a male pollinator to produce berries; use Mr. Poppins® winterberry holly.

Plantaerium

Brightest gold fruit on the market. Strike it rich with Berry Heavy ® Gold, the winterberry with the biggest, brightest gold fruit yet. You will treasure this long-time staff favorite for gardens, mass plantings, or as a cut branch. Selected by the late, great plantsman and conservationist Fred Case of Saginaw, Michigan. For berries on this female selection, a male pollinator is required; use Mr. Poppins ® winterberry holly. Fruit is not edible.

Plantaerium

A handsome evergreen shrub, ‘Blue Prince’ blue holly provides year-round interest in the garden. With dark blue-green foliage and purple stems, ‘Blue Prince’ Ilex x meserveae is attractive on its own but is commonly used as the male pollinator for 'Blue Princess' and other female blue hollies. Small white flowers appear in spring and, while pretty inconspicuous, attract pollinators. This easy-care blue holly (Meserve holly) is a classic choice for hedges, screens, or as a specimen.

Plantaerium

‘Blue Princess' blue holly is a landscape classic that provides year-round interest in the garden or landscape. With blue-green foliage on purple-hued stems and bright red berries, this Meserve holly lights up the winter landscape. This handsome Ilex x meserveae has a broad, irregular, rounded shape that looks great as a specimen, hedge, or screen. ‘Blue Princess’ requires a male pollinator to produce berries; use ‘ Blue Prince’ blue holly .