Evergreen shrub · Foundation plant · Wildlife habitat
Growing conditions
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist, acidic soils; tolerant of occasional wet or compacted conditions
Plant details
Size: ~5–8 ft tall × 5–8 ft wide (straight species; spreads by root suckers to form colonies over time)
Blooms: Late spring
Fruit: Black berries on female plants (requires a male plant nearby for fruit production)
Deer resistant: Yes
Why we love it
- A beautiful native alternative to boxwood with glossy evergreen leaves and a naturally rounded form
- Creates year-round structure in foundation plantings, borders, and mixed shrub gardens
- Once established, tolerates brief dry spells, as well as salt, air pollution, soil compaction, erosion, and periodically wet soils, though it performs best with consistent moisture
- Provides an elegant, evergreen presence in the landscape with very little maintenance
Why wildlife loves it
- Tiny white spring flowers provide nectar and pollen for native bees and flies
- Leaves support the caterpillars of native moths and butterflies
- Black berries persist into winter, providing food for birds when other resources are scarce
- Dense evergreen branches offer year-round shelter and nesting cover for birds and other wildlife
Fun to see
Berries ripen in fall but often go untouched for months. Then, in late winter, flocks of robins and other birds will strip the shrub bare almost overnight once other food sources run low.
What to expect at pickup
Plants are sold as young, well-rooted plugs. Some may be just emerging or still waking up from dormancy at pickup—they’ll grow and fill in as the season unfolds.
Before you order
All orders are for pickup at the Montclair Farmers Market.
• Choose your pickup Saturday at checkout
• Orders must be picked up on that date
• Plants are living and may vary in appearance
• All sales are final once plants are picked up
• Please check your plants at pickup — we can only address issues at that time
