Squeeze Box Inkberry holly

Squeeze Box® Inkberry holly is the tall, upright male selection Ilex glabra 'SMNIGLA', with dense evergreen foliage and a narrow pyramidal outline. It grows about 4–6 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide, adding year-round structure as a screen, hedge or specimen. Plant it in part shade to sun in USDA zones 5a–9b, with consistently moist soil. [Proven Winners](https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/ilex/squeeze-box-inkberry-holly-ilex-glabra) ## Landscape Use The upright, freely branching form brings height and a formal line to a border or hedge while retaining green foliage through winter. Proven Winners lists Squeeze Box for screening, landscape and specimen use and describes it as a native alternative to boxwood. [Proven Winners](https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/ilex/squeeze-box-inkberry-holly-ilex-glabra) ## Pollination Squeeze Box is a male inkberry and does not produce berries itself. Its pollen can help female cultivars such as Gem Box and Strongbox set dark berries when a compatible plant is within about 50 feet (15 m). This makes it useful near female inkberries as well as on its own for evergreen structure. [Proven Winners](https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/ilex/squeeze-box-inkberry-holly-ilex-glabra) ## Cultivar Identity Spring Meadow Nursery's ‘SMNIGLA’ is sold under the Squeeze Box® name. The breeder identifies it as U.S. Plant Patent 35,019, issued March 7, 2023. [Patent record](https://patents.justia.com/patent/PP35019) ## Maintenance Keep the soil consistently moist; the breeder notes that the plant is not drought tolerant but can withstand occasional wet periods. If pruning is needed, wait until after the late-spring bloom. Use a granular shrub fertilizer in early spring. Inkberry species guidance from NC State supports full sun to partial shade and acidic soil. [Proven Winners](https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/ilex/squeeze-box-inkberry-holly-ilex-glabra) [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ilex-glabra/)