Ilex glabra strongbox3/30/2023 The only confirmed male cultivar that I and the Holly Society of America are aware of is ‘Pretty Boy.’ I have seen that cultivar offered for sale during one season at one nursery (which is no longer selling it). Named cultivars, like ‘Shamrock,’ ‘Nordic,’ ‘Nigra,’ ‘Densa’, ‘Compacta,’ ‘Cape Cod,’ etc., are one sex – and all of those cultivars are female. Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial discussed the problem of finding male inkberry cultivars in the nursery trade: Female shrubs are common in nurseries, but it is difficult to find male cultivars, or male inkberry straight species. If pollination occurs between male and female plants, flowers are followed by pea-sized, jet black, berry-like drupes which mature in early fall. The flowers are not self-fertile and are pollinated by bees. Both male and female hollies are required if berries are desired. Ilex glabra ‘Compacta’ berries Photo: Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Gardenįlowers are dioecious, meaning that individual flowers are either male or female, and only one sex is found on each bush. Inkberry may be propagated from stem and root cuttings, or from suckers. These cultivars will be discussed in a later section. Many consider this legginess to be one of the species’ drawbacks, and cultivars have been developed to improve fullness. The shrub tends to become more open and leggier as it grows to a mature height of 5-10’ and a width of 5-8’. Leaves have a smooth edge except near the top where there are several teeth. Oval, alternate leaves are a shiny dark green on top, with undersides that are duller and lighter. Stems arise from heavy, tuberous rhizomes which often produce suckering. Inkberry has an upright, rounded habitat developing multiple trunks. The straight species is generally hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-10. When the earth is too alkaline, inkberry is prone to chlorosis, or a yellowing of the foliage. It likes an acid to neutral soil with a pH range of 3.5-6.0 it has good salt tolerance. It can thrive in conditions ranging from full sun to moderate shade from wet to dry sites and from sandy soils to clay. Although commonly found in moist to wet soils, this highly adaptable shrub does well in home landscapes.
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