Ilex coriacea

Common Names

Large Gallberry, Sweet Gallberry, Inkberry Holly, Inkberry, Tall Inkberry Holly, Baygall Bush, Big Gallberry, Bay Gallberrry

Summary

Ilex coriacea, commonly known as Large Gallberry, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the Aquifoliaceae family native to the southeastern United States coastal plain from Virginia to Texas, often growing as an understory in wetlands and pine savannas. It features leathery dark green leaves about 1.5 to 3 inches long with margins that are entire or slightly serrated toward the tip, white spring flowers, and dioecious habit with shiny black drupes maturing in fall on female plants; it serves as a nectar source for bees and is used in landscapes as a hedge or border, thriving in moist, sandy, acidic soils and tolerating full sun to partial shade, with hardiness in USDA zones 7 to 10. In cultivation, it prefers acidic soils (pH 4.5 to 6.5) with well-drained moisture and not waterlogged conditions, and benefits from planting where roots aren’t disturbed and from conservative pruning. Propagation is by seed, cuttings, or layering, with seed germination often requiring dormancy and stratification, and cross-pollination by male and female plants needed for fruit. It has wildlife value for birds and bees, and suits hedges, foundations, or native/winter gardens; it may be affected by leaf spot, powdery mildew, and certain pests, requiring good cultural practices and targeted treatments if needed.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

84-180 inches

Spread

36-60 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Partial Shade; tolerates Full Sun, Partial Shade, and Full Shade; may suffer leaf scorch in Full Sun

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, acidic soil with a pH about 4.5–6.5

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained, acidic soil (pH 4.5–6.5)

Soil pH

Acidic to neutral (pH 4.5–8.0)

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring (April–May)

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seed propagation, Cuttings propagation, Layering propagation, Rhizome-based vegetative propagation

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees