Inkberry Holly Profile for Maryland

Inkberry holly (Ilex glabra) is an evergreen shrub that University of Maryland Extension identifies as native to Maryland’s Coastal Plain. The profile supports a site screen, not a statewide range claim; verify that the species and nursery material are appropriate for the planting location.

Site profile

Field	Source description
Mature size	About 5–8 feet tall.
Light	Full sun to full shade.
Soil	All textures; dry to periodically wet; acidic pH 4.5–6.
Water and salt	Tolerates periodic flooding, drought, and salt. The source gives no salt threshold or flooding duration.
Growth and form	Slowly suckers. Older plants may become bare near the base; UMD recommends selective thinning rather than shearing.
Fruit	Female plants may produce berries after pollination; the source does not give a firm pollinator-placement rule.

The graphic summarizes the UMD site and maintenance notes; it is not a pruning cut guide, and the stress tolerances are not thresholds.

Inkberry’s broad light and moisture descriptions still require a check of drainage, acidity, and actual flood duration. Its salt note is qualitative and does not establish tolerance of a particular road’s runoff or spray. Allow for slow suckering and consider how the shrub will look if its lower stems thin with age.