Inkberry plants – Purchase

Q: Where can I purchase male and female inkberry plants?

A: Inkberry, Ilex glabra, is a great native holly. Unlike many other hollies, its berries are black. Truthfully, I don’t think there is much bang for the buck from this shrub’s flowers or fruit. Its real appeal is its happy tolerance of just about any site in which you plant it. Wet soil, dry soil, shade and sun make it equally happy. One benefit of the berries is to feed wildlife. If that is your purpose, planting a male inkberry near a group of female shrubs will result in copious fruit. The Georgia Native Plant Society (www.gnps.org) keeps a list of southern native plant vendors on its website. ‘Pretty Boy’ is a male inkberry variety.