Densa Inkberry Holly

You will be forgiven for not recognizing the Densa Inkberry Holly as a holly – it has small, oval leaves, with no spines, and it doesn’t have red berries. What it does have is a great evergreen look, with dense branches to the ground, small leaves and tough habits. This is a selected, compact form of our native Inkberry, and it’s a great substitute for boxwood, especially in areas with hot, humid summers, and where the soil is too wet for boxwood, which is also becoming increasingly difficult to grow, with numerous potential pests. The Densa Inkberry Holly, though, is free of problems, tough and reliable. If left to grow naturally it forms a rounded, irregular bush as much as 7 feet tall and wide, but with some trimming it can easily be kept smaller, forming a dense bush or neat hedge, depending on your needs. It has small white flowers in spring, which may become clusters of black berries in fall – popular with birds – but its main feature is its dense, evergreen look and easy-care ways. It grows in regular soils, although it isn’t especially drought tolerant, and it also thrives in wet places, such as by a pond or along a stream. Note that it needs acidic soil to thrive, making it a great background plant for your azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias.

• Compact, rounded evergreen with small, dark-green leaves
• Easy replacement for boxwood, tolerating heat and humidity
• Naturally dense and rounded, and also trims easily to any shape and size
• Tolerant of wet soils, or ordinary garden conditions
• A native plant, suitable for wild gardens

Plant the Densa Inkberry Holly in full sun, or in a spot with a few hours of shade each day. Grow it in acidic soils that are moist, of any type, from sand to clay. Use mulch to conserve soil moisture, as this plant is not especially drought tolerant. It also grows in wet soils, such as along a stream or around a pond. Deer tolerant, it rarely if ever has any pest or disease problems. Trim as needed, at any time from late winter to early fall, with spring the preferred time in colder zones.