Woody > Ilex > Ilex glabra > Ilex glabra 'Compacta'
Ilex glabra
'Compacta'
Compact Inkberry
Origin: This clone was selected and introduced by William Flemer in 1937 of Princeton Nursery, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America.
Mike's
Opinion
"
Slower growing, wide, dense upright form with black berries. Has proven to be one of the most reliable of the hollies. Prefers moist, acid soils and full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. It is the only true holly that spreads by underground stems and will form colonies, making it valuable for mass plantings and hillsides.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Aquifoliaceae |
| Genus |
| Ilex |
| Species |
| glabra |
| Cultivar |
| 'Compacta' |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 4–9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 5a |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -29 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -30 |
| Height |
| 1–1.3 m |
| Spread |
| 1.3–2 m |
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| An extremely versatile small evergreen shrub; can be used in the garden or for low hedges, massing and topiary, small oval leaves and interesting black berries in winter; quite hardy, but some suckering; does best in full sun to partial shade. |
| Landscape |
| Mass or group, excellent for shrub borders, foundation plantings or hedges. |
| Cultivation |
| Succeeds in most soils if they are not water-logged; needs an acid soil. Very slow growing and seldom exceeding 1.3 m in height. |
| Shape |
| Compact shrub with a tight, oval to rounded habit. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| ID Characteristic |
| White flowers appear in spring but are relatively inconspicuous. It has grey-brown or slightly green smooth bark with the newer stems typically green. Small thick, spineless, dark green leaves fade to olive green in winter. Jet black fruits persist throughout the winter. |
| Pests |
| No serious disease or insect problems. Occasional problems with leaf spot and susceptible to chlorosis in high pH soils. |
| Habitat |
| The species is naturally distributed along the coastal states from Texas to Nova Scotia. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Grey-brown or slightly green smooth bark. Newer stems are typically green. |
| Leaf Description |
| Small, thick, spineless, dark green leaves fade to olive green in winter, 3–4 cm long. |
| Flower Description |
| Whitish flowers appear in spring, but are relatively inconspicuous, 5 mm in size. |
| Fruit Description |
| Ilex is dioecious with the drupe formation needing a nearby male plant. Lustrous, jet black fruits that persist through the winter; 8 mm in size. |
| Colour Description |
| Dark green leaves, jet black fruit 8 mm wide that persist through the winter, whitish flowers appear in spring. |
| Texture Description |
| Medium. |
| Propagation |
| Summer cuttings rooted under mist at between 1000 and 3000 ppm of IBA in peat/perlite work well. |
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