Common boxwood vs Inkberry
Inkberry is the native stand-in for box: an evergreen holly with small, glossy leaves that clips into a low hedge. It is looser than box and can go bare at the base with age, but it is not touched by box blight, the fungal disease that has ruined box hedges in Europe and, since 2011, in North America.
 Common boxwoodBuxus sempervirens |  InkberryIlex glabra | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 10 ft tall, 10 ft wide | 6½ ft tall, 6½ ft wide |
| Plant | 6½ ft apart | 5 ft apart |
| Zones | 5 to 8 | 4 to 10 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade | Full sun to part shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, average fertility | Evenly moist, average fertility |
| Flowers | None | None |
| Leaves | Fine, evergreen | Fine, evergreen |
| Job in a bed | Anchor | Anchor |
| Pets | Toxic (moderate) | Toxic (mild) |
| Deer | Resistant | Not listed as resistant |
| Native | No | Yes |
| Spread | Low risk | Moderate risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose common boxwood for dry summers, deer country and more height (10 ft against 6½ ft).
- Choose inkberry for colder gardens (to zone 4), warmer gardens (to zone 10), moist soil, a native garden, a smaller space (6½ ft against 10 ft) and more wildlife.
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. They share full sun, part sun and part shade and zones 5 to 8.
Read more: all about common boxwood, and all about inkberry, each with a bed the planner designed around it.