Source: Condursos Garden Center (NJ)
Size shipped: #3 pot (measured 2.5')
Planted: In ground, August 2019
First flowering: Unknown as of yet
(This plant stayed behind when I moved in 2021; therefore, the following text will receive no further updates.)
Bought during the Labor Day sale, appeared a healthy and full specimen -- lucky, as it was the last one they had left. A number of roots had hit the pot and started growing downwards against it, but it didn't look like any were circling; I still loosened quite a number of such edge roots away from the potting soil and let them sit in the hole backfill soil when planting. I did not realize until planting that the soil had a fair number of rocks and was also rather compressed into clods, sometimes forming around the rocks. Good thing I had a whole bunch of free compost (thank you, Morris County!) to mix into the soil, along with Espoma Holly-tone of course.
At first, I thought that everything I'd read about inkberries tolerating moist soil didn't seem to apply in this particular case -- even going a week between waterings, I still saw more yellow interior leaves the next day. I thought that maybe the rocks formed a solid layer not far underneath the surface, which could hinder drainage. But further experience with planting out evergreens (such as the Nellie R. Stevens holly, the Edith Bogue magnolia, and so on), plus a cheap soil test when I planted the Emily Bruner holly, has led me to conclude that the issue was not overwatering, but rather nitrogen deficiency. The only broadleaf evergreens I've planted since then that did not have yellowing and dropping of inner leaves immediately after planting either were planted in the much richer front foundation bed (the Summer Snow gardenia, the April Dawn camellia) or received a dose of feather meal at planting time (the Emily Bruner holly, the Prague viburnum).