Ilex Gem Box® Holly

A Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrubs variety, Ilex Gem Box® Holly.

Ilex Gem Box® Holly delivers evergreen color and structure in a tidy, low-maintenance form gardeners love. This compact Proven Winners® ColorChoice® shrub brings year-round beauty with glossy dark green leaves tipped in red each spring. Naturally rounded and dense, it resembles boxwood more than traditional inkberry holly, offering that same formal elegance with none of the fussy pruning. Reaching only 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, this native evergreen shrub is ideal for small spaces, containers, or low hedges.

Gem Box® is a female Ilex glabra (commonly called inkberry), and with a compatible male nearby, it may produce small, glossy black berries. Even without fruit, its neat habit and fine-textured foliage provide continuous appeal. Use it to line walkways, define a foundation bed, or accent a pollinator garden. Unlike leggy shrubs, Gem Box® is fully branched from top to bottom and even spreads gently by root suckers, forming a lush, uniform edge. It's also a lovely addition to native and wildlife-friendly landscapes.

This North American native thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers acidic, consistently moist soil—much like its natural home in wet, boggy areas. It tolerates clay, occasional flooding, and even coastal conditions, making it a strong choice for rain gardens or regions with poor drainage. Best of all, Gem Box® is deer resistant, salt tolerant, and virtually maintenance-free. A quick spring prune keeps it looking perfect. For year-round interest, structure, and environmental benefit, this inkberry holly is an easy win.

Explore evergreen shrubs for year-round beauty, check out our native plant selection, or discover compact plants for small spaces.