Compacta is a female cultivar of the native inkberry, growing to 4 feet high and 6 feet wide. While tolerant of a range of conditions, it prefers moist, acidic soil with morning sun and afternoon shade. Inkberries are dioecious, so a male pollinator is required to produce fruit. Birds love the black berries that mature in the fall and are held on the plant through winter, and pollinators are attracted to the inconspicuous, but nectar-rich flowers. Prune in early spring for shape and to encourage new growth. It is useful for a low evergreen hedge or screen.