Ilex glabra

Common Names

Inkberry, Gallberry, Inkberry Holly, Appalachian Tea, Winterberry, Evergreen Winterberry

Summary

Ilex glabra is an evergreen shrub native to eastern North America, forming dense colonies via rhizomes and typically growing about 5–8 feet tall and wide, it has spineless, glossy dark-green leaves and produces small, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers in spring, when male and female plants are present, female plants bear jet-black berry drupes that persist into winter, providing seasonal visual interest for wildlife, the upright to rounded habit and year-round foliage give a tidy texture in landscapes, Preferring moist, acidic soil, it grows best in full sun to partial shade and tolerates wet sites, hardy in USDA zones 5–10, Pruning after bloom maintains structure, and the plant can form colonies via root suckers, Uses include hedges, foundations, mass plantings, screens, or naturalized plantings in moist or wetlands, Propagation can occur from seeds (with dormancy) or cuttings, and cultivars such as Shamrock, Strongbox, Nigra, and Compacta offer compact or varied forms, Common concerns include leaf spot and Phytophthora root rot, while deer resistance and wildlife value enhance landscape function.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

5-12 feet

Spread

5-8 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ilex glabra ideally requires full sun, tolerating partial sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, acidic soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil pH

3.5-6.0, Acidic to neutral soil, Avoid high pH soils

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Dark green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color change

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division, Root suckers, Grafting

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and birds