A great native alternative to boxwood! This cool new dwarf, broadleaf evergreen looks more like a boxwood than an inkberry. A dense, ball-shaped plant, Gem Box ilex has small, dainty, dark green leaves with attractive red tips during the spring flush. It maintains good branching right to the ground so it never looks bare-legged like other cultivars may. It's great as a small evergreen hedge or used as a container specimen in milder climates.

• 2-3 feet tall and wide at maturity
• Hardy in zones 5-9, be sure to check your USDA zone to ensure success
• Plant in part to full sun (4+ hours daily)
• Space plants 2-3 feet apart for best results
• Maintains dark green leaves with a red tint during spring on a tidy, rounded habit year-round
• Resists deer
• Great for borders, low hedges, containers, edging, landscapes, mass plantings, focal points
• Native to North America, miniature variety, foliage Interest, fall and winter interest, salt tolerant

Care: Fertilize with Proven Winners Continuous Release Plant Food in spring and mid summer. Little to no pruning is needed. If you wish to trim or prune it, do so in mid-late spring, after the new growth has emerged.

Shipping Info:

• Enjoy free shipping on orders over $175
• Size at shipping varies by the season and plant
• Quart shrubs are 5-8" tall at shipment
• 1-Gallon shrubs are 6-24" tall at shipment
• Shrubs ship dormant November through April

Read our guide to get started with planning a garden