Ilex glabra GEM BOX® | Proven Winners®

Looking for a native, deer-resistant alternative to boxwood that still delivers that tidy, evergreen structure? Gem Box® Inkberry Holly is your perfect match. This dwarf broadleaf evergreen may look like a boxwood at first glance, but it’s actually a super-tough inkberry holly—bringing the same lush, formal look with far more resilience and versatility.

With its naturally dense, ball-shaped habit and dark green, dainty leaves, Gem Box adds polish to garden beds, borders, or containers. In spring, new growth arrives tipped in rich red for a fresh seasonal touch. Unlike other inkberries, this variety stays full and leafy all the way to the ground—no bare legs here! It shines year-round, whether you’re using it as a low hedge, foundation plant, or accent in your landscape.

Why we love it:

• A native evergreen alternative to boxwood—deer-resistant and hardy

• Naturally dense and rounded with no pruning needed

• Year-round foliage with red-tinted new growth in spring