Bloomipedia
Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flowering shrub

Inkberry

Ilex glabra

Inkberry (Ilex glabra) is a shrub in the Aquifoliaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

🌷 Flowering shrubNative in the lower 48

Inkberry is a popular flowering shrub. It's on our flower lists for 31 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

20states where USDA records it
31Bloomipedia state lists include it
11,224U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Our state lists also include states where people grow it in gardens, so they can outnumber USDA's wild-plant records. Planted garden shrubs are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia

Quick look

Ilex glabra, also known as Appalachian tea, evergreen winterberry, Canadian winterberry, gallberry, inkberry, dye-leaves and houx galbre, is a species of evergreen holly native to the coastal plain of eastern North America, from coastal Nova Scotia to Florida and west to Louisiana where it is most commonly found in sandy woods and peripheries of swamps and bogs.

  • It belongs to the Aquifoliaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 20 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • In New Jersey, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 8 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 6,057 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #25 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,439 research-grade sightings of it in New Jersey, ranking #62 among the 186 flowers on our New Jersey list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 785 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #109 among the 192 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (306 records)
Bloom time in the 31 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Florida🌷 GardenApril–May6,057
New Jersey🌷 GardenJune1,439
North Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (7)785
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenfew records (17)731
Mississippi🌷 GardenApril–May429
Alabama🌷 Gardenfew records (19)401
Georgia🌷 Gardenfew records (11)344
New York🌷 Gardenfew records (2)342
South Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (8)236
Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records (3)148
Rhode Island🌷 Gardenfew records (3)120
Louisiana🌷 Gardenfew records (1)45
Maryland🌷 Gardenfew records (1)45
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records (4)44
Connecticut🌷 Gardenno flowering records27
Delaware🌷 Gardenno flowering records16
Maine🌷 Gardenfew records (2)6
Tennessee🌷 Gardenno flowering records6
New Hampshire🌷 Gardenno flowering records2
West Virginia🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Arkansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
California🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Illinois🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Indiana🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Kansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Kentucky🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Missouri🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Ohio🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Oklahoma🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Oregon🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Vermont🌷 Gardenno flowering records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 17 of our 31 states.
See each state
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S5, secure in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: S5, secure in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S5, secure in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: S5, secure in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe has no Tennessee rank for it. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe has no California rank for it. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe has no Illinois rank for it. IL E&T checklist 2025
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe has no Kentucky rank for it. 400 KAR 3:040
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe has no Missouri rank for it. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe has no Ohio rank for it. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe has no Oregon rank for it. OAR 603-073-0070
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe has no Vermont rank for it. Vermont E&T list
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
New York
Exploitably vulnerable On New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3): exploitably vulnerable (protected from picking without the landowner's permission). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in South Carolina.
Louisiana
No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania extirpated On Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023): pennsylvania extirpated. NatureServe: SX, presumed extirpated in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Connecticut
State threatened On Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list): state threatened. NatureServe: S2, imperiled in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
Maine
State endangered On Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories: state endangered. NatureServe: S1, critically imperiled in Maine. Maine rare plant list
New Hampshire
State endangered On New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020): state endangered. NatureServe: SH, possibly extirpated (known only from historical records) in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe has no West Virginia rank for it.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe has no Indiana rank for it.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe has no Kansas rank for it.
Oklahoma
No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe has no Oklahoma rank for it.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: TX (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: it's on New York's rare plant list (exploitably vulnerable); it's on Pennsylvania's rare plant list (pennsylvania extirpated); it's on Connecticut's rare plant list (state threatened); it's on Maine's rare plant list (state endangered); it's on New Hampshire's rare plant list (state endangered); NatureServe ranks it S2 in Connecticut and S1 in Maine. 6 NYCRR § 193.3 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45 CT E/T/SC list Maine rare plant list NH Ncr 312 NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Symptoms they list: “Minor toxicity. Ingestion may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or other illness in humans.” They also note: “Use caution. Human ingestion of berries can cause minor toxic reaction.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Ilex aquifolium (“English Holly”), as toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records inkberry in 20 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia.

Florida counties with USDA records: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, Washington.

New Jersey counties with USDA records: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Salem.

North Carolina counties with USDA records: Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Chatham, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Dare, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Martin, Moore, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Orange, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Tyrrell, Vance, Wake, Wayne, Wilson.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Inkberry a high shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.5 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -13 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
4.5 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-13 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
165
Annual precipitation range
32 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
16 inches
Salinity tolerance
Medium
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Summer and Fall
Fruit or seed
Black · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for ILGL. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 271 counties across 16 states; the most are in Florida (67), North Carolina (44), Georgia (39).

Other Ilex on Bloomipedia (4): American holly, Yaupon holly, Winterberry, Japanese holly.

More Florida flowers

Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria)

Yaupon holly

Ilex vomitoria

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌼 Blooms in FL: March–April
American holly (Ilex opaca)

American holly

Ilex opaca

🌷 Flowering tree

🌷 Grown in Florida gardens
Japanese holly (Ilex crenata)

Japanese holly

Ilex crenata

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in Florida gardens

Sources