Inkberry (Ilex glabra)

Inkberry (Ilex glabra)

Inkberry is the unsung workhorse of the Louisiana native shrub palette — an evergreen holly that thrives in wet, acidic soils where few other shrubs succeed. Its glossy dark foliage holds color year-round, and its small black berries persist through winter, feeding songbirds when little else is available. A plant of bayou margins, flatwoods, and pocosins, Inkberry is built for the Gulf South.

Botanical Profile

• Family: Aquifoliaceae (Holly family)
• Native Range: Eastern North America from Nova Scotia to Florida and west to Texas; native to Louisiana wetland margins and pine flatwoods
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–9
• Mature Size: 5–8 feet tall and wide
• Bloom Time: May–June (small white flowers)
• Sun: Full sun to full shade
• Soil: Moist to wet, acidic; tolerates standing water and clay

Ecological Role

Inkberry berries are consumed by over 15 species of birds including cedar waxwings, hermit thrushes, and yellow-rumped warblers. It provides dense nesting cover and is a larval host for Henry’s elfin butterfly. Its flowers support native bees in late spring.

In the Cajun Heritage Garden

Part of the Jardin — Heritage Garden collection at Big Mamou Enterprises, Inkberry is a four-season native shrub of exceptional ecological value and low-maintenance beauty.