If you love the evergreen look of Boxwood but want to step out of the pack a bit, try Gem Box® Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra ‘SMNIGAB17’ USPP 27,554). This Proven Winners® plant is long on style, but short in stature.

And it will stay small, too. You’ll love using the mounded structural accent for just about any garden bed.

Gem Box® Inkberry Holly will tolerate several hours of shade a day. That makes it even more versatile to use near ornamental trees, patios, and foundations. It also performs beautifully in full sun all day long.

It’s an easy-care plant that is grown for foliage, attractive white flowers, and even winter berries. The new spring grown is tinged a You’ll appreciate it all year round.

Glossy, lance-shaped leaves bring a year-long dark green sheen. Try them in small containers along a walkway. This native plant will appreciate regular water, so set up drip irrigation to keep things really easy for yourself.

Gem Box is an excellent alternative to a Boxwood especially in those areas that do not have as well drained soils.

For a solid low hedge, plant them 1 – 3 feet on center. You’ll measure from the center of one shrub to the center of the next. As your budget allows, plant them closer together. They’ll fill in faster for you.

You can also try a staggered zig-zag to create a mass planting on a slope or large bare patch. The plants will grow to create a low-maintenance ground cover. Just keep it weeded and fertilized with Dr. Earth Acid Lovers Organic and Natural Premium Fertilizer in spring and mid-summer.

Every garden bed needs an anchor, and charming little Inkberry fills the spot perfectly. Order enough to complete your project today!