It's underused, but it can function well in many ways in Georgia landscapes. The inkberry's small leaves are evergreen, about three-fourths of an inch wide and 2 inches long. They have a smooth, flat, dark green surface. The plant is rounded and often wider than tall when it's mature. The foliage may become purplish red in the cooler temperatures of winter.
Female inkberries produce small black fruits in the fall.
However, several white-fruited forms have been found. The white-fruited forms, though, are still hard to find in Georgia nurseries and garden centers. The inkberry works well for foundation plantings, hedges or screens or green fillers in the shrub border. The dark green foliage provides interest all season long. The compact habit makes inkberry an ideal substitute for boxwood or Japanese holly, particularly in wet sites.