Proven Winners Inkberry Holly 'Squeeze Box'

About this plant

Meet 'Squeeze Box', an exceptional Inkberry Holly from Proven Winners, destined to become a staple in your landscape. This unique cultivar boasts a strikingly narrow, upright growth habit, making it ideal for tight spaces where traditional shrubs might be too wide. Its dense, dark green foliage provides excellent year-round color and texture without the prickly leaves often associated with other holly varieties. Unlike deciduous shrubs, 'Squeeze Box' maintains its lush appearance throughout all seasons, offering consistent visual interest and structure. It's a fantastic choice for creating elegant vertical accents, defining borders, or planting in containers on patios and balconies. This low-maintenance gem is also incredibly adaptable, thriving in a range of conditions once established. With its refined form and enduring beauty, Proven Winners Inkberry Holly 'Squeeze Box' is an indispensable addition to any discerning garden, bringing sophisticated charm and effortless greenery to your outdoor living spaces.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Requires minimal pruning to maintain its columnar shape. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring. Little to no serious pest or disease issues.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.