Inkberry questions

We planted an inkberry (Ilex glabra 'Shamrock') hedge this spring, 3 bushes 4 feet apart. The nursery told me to use Wilt Pruf, an anti-dessicant, to protect the plant, in winter I assume. The directions say to spray until dripping, when exactly should I apply it? Also, the nursery tag says the plant has "developing black berries". But I thought you needed both males & females for fruit? I know Nordic is supposedly male, what about this cultivar? It looks like I've got 3 girls (single flowers), so no berries? Finally, Dirr says they're a "major nectar source for bees, producing a light clear honey". How do I go about collecting it? Thanks for the help. I really like the looks of this shrub. If it lives up to its potential, it is vastly under-used here.

Well, for the first past of your question, anti-dessicant sprays aren't generally needed or even recommended for established, hardy plants. Inkberry should have no problems in your winter climate once it's had a growing season to root in. But if you choose to spray it, wait until the ground starts to freeze but select a warm (thaw) day for the actual spraying. Then reapply during a January thaw, if you get one.

I don't know the cultivars so someone else will have to help you there.

The nectar doesn't need to be collected -- the bees will do that. And if it's the honey that you are wanting to collect, you'll need to have bees set up in an apiary, or else climb the hollow tree where they nest!

Guy S.

No winter damage here with no protection. Donate the Wilt-pruf to the anti-dessicant needy. Likes wet soil. You need a boy for berries. Can get a wee bit leggy(bare bottoms?).

I'm not ready to set up an apiary any time soon. (So that's what you call it!) My deceased BIL used to do that, I was checking out his bee-keeping equipment this past weekend. It looks like a fun project for retirement.

Sadly, I don't know if I have a (real) boy. I don't think I'll mind it a little leggy, but can I prune it or something to keep it compact? I'm planting perennials in front of the hedge, so that may not be a problem. My front yard is hot and dry western exposure, but I did mulch and I've been watering. They're flowering now, so I take that as a good sign! I have Wilt-pruf if anyone needs it, LOL.

As for pollination any Evergreen Holly in theory could work. I don't remember whether the black berried ot the red berried has longer flowers. They cross one way. The other way the pollen can't reach its destination. I don't think Japanese Holly (black berries) has ever been crossed with another species, even closely related ones.

Down here we call them gallberries. I have never had them as a landscape plant but I do have plenty of them growing in the woods. They quickly resprout after being cut down or burned, so I would assume they would take shearing very well. I have never noticed any of mine loaded very heavily with fruit. Usually less than 10 berries on each plant, but the birds could have gotten them first. They are a little slow growing in the beginning, so it will be awhile before you have to worry about it becoming leggy.

Thanks for that info! I guess if they get too bare bottomed, I would cut them all the way down? Whoa, maybe not. (I could use a few lessons in pruning). Also good to know that the fruit is not that big a deal, in case I don't get any. I was a little concerned that I would have, um, er, black splats to deal with. It must be weird seeing them used as a landscape shrub, after seeing them growing as scrub all your life. That's how I feel about prairie plants. I can't believe we were sitting on a gold mine! I just planted some milkweed I dug from my SIL property, she has a sedge meadow. Her husband was planning to start a tree nursery on the site. I never had the chance to meet him, it's a good thing he died before that plan went into action! I was actually excited about the whole idea, never realizing the lay of the land so to speak. I must've looked all Popeyed when I saw the place! I asked her if she knew what she had there, feigning utter calm. My heart was racing, my palms were sweating. My DH knew it too, he said, very nonchalantly, do you want to go for a walk in the grass? Did I ever! I was 10 years old again, with the mud squishing underfoot, and the grasses up to my eyeballs. I know, geek. ROFL.

Oh, I didn't mean any disrespect! I meant it would've been a tragedy for all the world and future generations if he would've eliminated the meadow in order to grow trees.