Ilex glabra
Inkberry
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.Inkberry is an evergreen holly with spineless leaves. Tiny, greenish-white flowers bloom in the spring, followed by black berry-like fruits in...
Description:
Inkberry is an evergreen holly with spineless leaves. Tiny, greenish-white flowers bloom in the spring, followed by black berry-like fruits in late fall and winter. The flowers are a source of nectar for bees, producing the flavorful Gallberry honey. Since Inkberry is dioecious (separate male and female plants), a male must be in the area to pollinate the female flowers for fruit production. Like other hollies, its fruit provides food for birds in the winter when other food is scarce. Inkberry has high wind resistance. Use this wildlife-friendly shrub in groups in foundation plantings or hedges. Good choice for wet sites, such as rain gardens and edges of ponds or streams.
Plant Details:
Other Common Names: Gallberry
Plant Type: Shrub
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Spring
Bloom Colors: Green, White
Deer Resistance: Some
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Bees and Other Pollinators, Birds
Salt Tolerance: Medium
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: All Regions in NJ
Grows in Special Ecoregions: Barrier Island/Coastal, Pinelands
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy, Clay
Soil Moisture: Moist, Wet
Soil pH: Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Full Sun
Light Range: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Moist, Wet
Drought Tolerance: Low
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 6 - 8 ft
Spread: 8 - 10 ft
Growth Rate: Slow