Inkberry 'Compacta' is a slow-growing, evergreen holly shrub native to the coastal plains from Nova Scotia to Louisiana, where it thrives in sandy woods and swamp margins. This compact cultivar matures to 3, 4 feet tall and 4, 6 feet wide, making it far more manageable than the species form while retaining all the resilience that made inkberry a workhorse in American landscapes. Its glossy, spineless dark green leaves stay vibrant year-round, and in late spring small flowers give way to showy black berries that birds devour come fall. Hardy from zones 4 to 9, it tolerates wet soils, deer, erosion, and urban conditions with equal grace, thriving in full sun to partial shade.
Partial Sun
Moderate
4-9
48in H x 72in W
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High
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The berries are the real draw here. Female plants laden with glossy black drupes create a visual feast for birds and gardeners alike from late summer through winter, especially striking against the dark evergreen foliage. Unlike many hollies, inkberry has spineless leaves, so you'll never draw blood pruning or brushing past it. Its slow, deliberate growth means less frequent trimming, and its willingness to tolerate wet soils makes it exceptional for rain gardens and poorly drained spots where other shrubs struggle.
Inkberry 'Compacta' excels as a hedge or screening plant where year-round structure and low maintenance are priorities. Its dense, upright-rounded habit and compact size make it invaluable in rain gardens and naturalized plantings in wet areas where conventional shrubs fail. The showy black berries attract migrating birds and resident flocks, turning the plant into a functional wildlife refuge from fall through winter.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Prune to shape in early spring just before new growth emerges. Inkberry 'Compacta' grows slowly and deliberately, so it rarely requires aggressive pruning; light shaping maintains its upright-rounded form and keeps the shrub dense and attractive.
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“Ilex glabra, the species, has been part of the American landscape for centuries, integral to coastal wetland ecosystems from Nova Scotia southward. The 'Compacta' cultivar emerged as a selected form designed to bring the virtues of the larger species into suburban and residential gardens where space and scale matter more. This compact variant preserves the parent plant's hardiness and ecological role while fitting neatly into modern landscape plans.”