Ilex glabra: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Dried and roasted inkberry leaves were first used by Native Americans to brew a black tea-like drink, hence the sometimes used common name of Appalachian tea for this shrub.
Plant Profile: Ilex glabra
Taxonomy: Ilex glabraNames
Appalachian Tea, Gallberry, Inkberry
Phonetic Spelling:EYE-leks GLAY-bruh
Genus:Ilex
Species:glabra
Family:Aquifoliaceae
Ilex glabra, commonly known as inkberry or gallberry, is a slow-growing, upright, rounded shrub that belongs to the holly family. This broadleaf evergreen typically reaches heights of 5 to 10 feet and can propagate through root suckers, forming colonies. It is indigenous to the coastal plains stretching from Nova Scotia down to Florida and Louisiana, where it thrives in sandy woodlands and the edges of swamps and bogs. The plant exhibits moderate salt tolerance and can adapt to a range of soil types, both light and heavy.
Inkberry is characterized by its upright, well-branched structure, which tends to become more open as it ages. Pruning is recommended in early spring, just before the onset of new growth, to maintain its shape. Generally, minimal pruning is required unless it is cultivated as a hedge, in which case it is best suited for informal hedging. If the spread of the plant is not desired, it is advisable to regularly remove root suckers.
Gallberry honey, a highly esteemed variety, is produced by bees that feed on the flowers of the inkberry. This honey is locally harvested in specific regions of the Southeastern United States, where beekeepers introduce their bees from late April to early June to align with the flowering period of the inkberry. While white-tailed deer may nibble on its leaves and twigs, the plant shows a degree of resistance to deer damage and is also resistant to rabbits.
This species is dioecious, meaning that a male pollinator is necessary for the female plants to produce fruit.
In terms of habitat, inkberry thrives in savannas, pine flatwoods, the margins of pocosins, and swamps, primarily in wetland areas but can also extend into upland regions like sandhills, provided there is a clay layer or spodic horizon beneath to retain moisture.
Regarding fire safety, inkberry has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space around your home. It is advisable to choose plants with lower flammability ratings for areas closest to your residence.
Insects and diseases can pose challenges for this plant; leaf spot is a sporadic issue, and spider mites may emerge, particularly in dry conditions. Additionally, inkberry is prone to chlorosis, which is the yellowing of leaves, in soils with high pH (alkaline) levels.
Tags
#evergreen
#drought tolerant
#wildlife plant
#honey bees
#nectar plant
#native shrub
#salt tolerant
#cover plant
#low maintenance
#winter interest
#rabbit resistant
#windbreak
#playground
#wet sites
#specialized bees
#food source
#highly beneficial coastal plants
#cpp
#fire
#high flammability
#NC native
#buffer
#children's garden
#native garden
#edible fruits
#pollinator plant
#larval host plant
#cover
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#Piedmont Mountains FAC
#Coastal FACW
#wet soils tolerant
#fruits
#bird friendly
#nectar plant late spring
#food source soft mast fruit
#butterfly friendly
#nectar plant early summer
#pollinator garden
#bee friendly
#audubon
#henry’s elfin butterfly
Similar Plants
Ilex glabra Feature Summary
Attributes
Dried and roasted inkberry leaves were first used by Native Americans to brew a black tea-like drink, hence the sometimes used common name of Appalachian tea for this shrub.
Alabama
coastal plain from Nova Scotia to Florida to Louisiana
This plant provides nectar for pollinators. It is a larval host plant for Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici) larvae which appear from February to May and have one flight. Adult Henry's Elfin butterflies feed on flower nectar. Other adult butterflies and bees are attracted to the blossoms as well. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi. The plant's fruits are eaten by many species of birds, including bobwhite quail and wild turkey and small mammals. Leaves are eaten by white-tailed deer and rabbits. This is also a cover plant for deer and other birds.
Soil compaction tolerant
Woody
Edible fruit
Wildlife Food Source
Wind Break
Attracts Pollinators
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Buffer
Screening
high flammability
Fruit
Pea-sized, jet black, berry-like drupes (inkberries to 3/8" in diameter) which mature in September and last through November.
Berry
Drupe
Black
Edible
< 1 inch
Flowers
Inkberries are dioecious, needing both male and female plants to produce fruits. Flowers are fairly inconspicuous. Male plants have flowers in cymes while the female plant will bear flowers in either cymes or as a single. Blooms from May to June.
White
Green
Spring
Summer
Leaves
The Inkberry has alternate, simple, spineless, flat, ovate to elliptic, glossy, dark green leaves (to 1.5” long) that have smooth margins with several marginal teeth near the apex. Leaves usually remain attractive in winter unless temperatures dip well below zero.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Simple
Alternate
Elliptical
Ovate
1-3 inches
Glossy
Stem
Multiple stems
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Native Plant
Broadleaf Evergreen
Rounded
Erect
Slow
Low
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Coastal
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Clay
Sand
Landscape
Edible Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Winter Garden
Hedge
Screen/Privacy
Pollution
Wet Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Erosion
Recreational Play Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Bees
Small Mammals
Specialized Bees
Ilex glabra Image Gallery
Ilex glabra Attributes
Ilex glabra: Country Or Region Of Origin
Alabama
Ilex glabra: Distribution
coastal plain from Nova Scotia to Florida to Louisiana
Ilex glabra: Wildlife Value
This plant provides nectar for pollinators. It is a larval host plant for Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici) larvae which appear from February to May and have one flight. Adult Henry's Elfin butterflies feed on flower nectar. Other adult butterflies and bees are attracted to the blossoms as well. Members of the genus Ilex support the following specialized bee: Colletes banksi. The plant's fruits are eaten by many species of birds, including bobwhite quail and wild turkey and small mammals. Leaves are eaten by white-tailed deer and rabbits. This is also a cover plant for deer and other birds.
Ilex glabra: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Soil compaction tolerant
Ilex glabra: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Ilex glabra: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Ilex glabra: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Ilex glabra Fruit
Ilex glabra: Fruit Description
Pea-sized, jet black, berry-like drupes (inkberries to 3/8" in diameter) which mature in September and last through November.
Ilex glabra: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Ilex glabra: Fruit Color
Black
Ilex glabra: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Ilex glabra: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Ilex glabra: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Ilex glabra Flowers
Ilex glabra: Flower Description
Inkberries are dioecious, needing both male and female plants to produce fruits. Flowers are fairly inconspicuous. Male plants have flowers in cymes while the female plant will bear flowers in either cymes or as a single. Blooms from May to June.
Ilex glabra: Flower Color
Green
White
Ilex glabra: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Ilex glabra: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Ilex glabra Leaves
Ilex glabra: Leaf Description
The Inkberry has alternate, simple, spineless, flat, ovate to elliptic, glossy, dark green leaves (to 1.5” long) that have smooth margins with several marginal teeth near the apex. Leaves usually remain attractive in winter unless temperatures dip well below zero.
Ilex glabra: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Ilex glabra: Leaf Color
Green
Ilex glabra: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Ilex glabra: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Ilex glabra: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Ilex glabra: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Ilex glabra: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Ilex glabra: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Ilex glabra: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Ilex glabra Stem
Ilex glabra: Stem Description
Multiple stems
Ilex glabra: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Ilex glabra Whole Plant Traits
Ilex glabra: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Ilex glabra: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Ilex glabra: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Ilex glabra: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Ilex glabra: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Ilex glabra: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Ilex glabra Cultural Conditions
Ilex glabra: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Ilex glabra: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Ilex glabra: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Ilex glabra: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Ilex glabra: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Ilex glabra: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Ilex glabra: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Ilex glabra Landscape
Ilex glabra: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Ilex glabra: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Ilex glabra: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Ilex glabra: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Ilex glabra: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
