Inkberry 'Gem Box'

Questions about inkberry 'Gem Box'

Does inkberry 'Gem Box' need sun or shade?

Inkberry 'Gem Box' grows in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun a day), part sun (4 to 6 hours of sun, including some afternoon sun) and part shade (2 to 4 hours of sun, mostly in the morning).

It wants soil that stays evenly moist, of average fertility, and a good soak in dry spells. It copes with soil that stays wet.

What zones does inkberry 'Gem Box' grow in?

USDA zones 5 to 9. It is hardy to zone 5, which means it survives winter nights down to about −10 °F (−23 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

How far apart should inkberry 'Gem Box' be planted?

24 in (60 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 2½ ft (75 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 2½ ft (75 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many inkberry 'Gem Box' plants do I need?

At 24 in apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 3 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 6 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 10 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as a group of three or five, with a second group further along in the other number.

In the bed above, the planner used one in one group.

Is inkberry 'Gem Box' poisonous to dogs and cats?

Yes: mild toxicity to people, dogs, cats and horses. The berries and leaves cause vomiting and diarrhoea if eaten.

Rated from NC State Extension and the ASPCA. Where references disagree, the more cautious rating is used.

Is there a pet-safe plant like inkberry 'Gem Box'?

These come closest to doing what inkberry 'Gem Box' does, and no toxicity is recorded for them:

• Arborvitae 'Mr. Bowling Ball': the same job in a bed and the same size.
• Deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearls': the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers early May to late May, not evergreen.
• Palm sedge: the same job in a bed; 6 in narrower, not evergreen.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

Do deer eat inkberry 'Gem Box'?

Mostly not. NC State lists it as resistant to rabbits. No plant is proof against a hungry deer in a hard winter, but this one is low on the menu.

What does inkberry 'Gem Box' look like in winter?

Inkberry 'Gem Box' keeps its dark green leaves all winter, so it is one of the plants that hold a bed together from November to March, when the perennials have gone.

Is inkberry 'Gem Box' good for bees and butterflies?

Inkberry 'Gem Box' is visited by pollinators, bees, specialist bees, butterflies and songbirds.

It is a host plant: the caterpillars of henry's elfin feed on its leaves. A butterfly can only lay its eggs on its host plants, so these do more for it than any nectar flower.

It is native to the United States and Canada (this is a named variety of the native plant).