Other Names:  Appalachian Tea Plant, Gallberry

A North American native holly that looks more like a boxwood than a holly, Strongbox Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra) is noted for its tight, dense form, disease resistance, and durability. It forms a broad, rounded mound 2 to 3 feet tall and equally as wide, clothed in rich green leaves, with no need for pruning to maintain its dense form. As with boxwoods, it responds very well to trimming for geometric shapes, such as globes and squares, or as a low, formal hedge. It features small, inconspicuous flowers that butterflies and beneficial pollinators will appreciate, making it an excellent addition to native plant and pollinator gardens. Excellent for landscape borders, home foundation plantings, or in containers, unlike other Inkberry cultivars, Strongbox stays full to the ground.