Shamrock Inkberry (Ilex glabra 'Shamrock')
EYE-leks GLAB-rah 'Shamrock'

Evergreen Perennial Compact, Rounded in the Aquifoliaceae Family
A compact, slow-growing native holly with glossy evergreen leaves and a neat, rounded shape.

Shamrock is a compact, slow-growing selection of native inkberry holly (Ilex glabra), valued for its dense, rounded habit and glossy, deep green evergreen foliage. Small, fragrant, greenish-white flowers appear in late spring and are a magnet for bees, though Shamrock is a female selection and needs an unrelated male inkberry nearby to set its small black berries. It adapts to a wide range of soil conditions, including both consistently moist and average garden soil, and tolerates light shade as well as full sun.

Pros

  • Dense, rounded evergreen habit needs little pruning
  • Tolerates both wet and average soils, plus light shade
  • Deer resistant and long-proven in the nursery trade

Cons

  • Female only, needs an unrelated male inkberry nearby to set berries
  • Spreads by root suckers; remove runners if a tidy clump is wanted
  • Can yellow (chlorosis) in alkaline soil
Highlights

One of the original compact inkberry selections, long valued as an evergreen alternative to boxwood.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 4 feet tall. 3 - 4 feet wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 5a - 9b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Birds, Attracts Pollinators, Deer Resistant, Disease Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Evergreen, Formal Garden, Foundation, Fragrant, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Hedges, Good for Rain Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Shrub, Tolerant of Acidic Soil, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant, Winter Interest
Bloom Period May to June
Flower Color Greenish-White
 

Most Popular Plants
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with other acid-loving, moisture-tolerant plants such as summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) or sweetspire (Itea virginica) in a wet-site or native shrub border.
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

Click a label to toggle visibility for that size

Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 08/23
2024 : 05/01 - 09/15
2023 : 06/01 - 09/30

© North Shore Plant Club 2026. Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions.

Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


Benefits of Membership

Want a better way to get great plants and make your yard look awesome? Create your account below and get:

  • The best plants… from the same sources the pros use, but at near wholesale prices
  • More plants in more sizes than anywhere else… whether you’re looking for classics or rarities; annuals, perennials or shrubs; one plant or a whole yardful!
  • "No Contact" delivery or easy pick-up at a site near you without fighting the retail crowds. You choose!

Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.

Already a member?
Login
About Ordering From The Plant Club

To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!


No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!