Rain Garden Plants: Inkberry

Inkberry is a multi-branched, woody shrub in the holly family. It is a rounded, broadleaf evergreen shrub, meaning it retains its leaves in the winter. The glossy, dark green, elliptical-shaped leaves grow alternately on branches. The green to white flowers are relatively inconspicuous and attract honeybees in the spring. It is dioecious, meaning it needs both male and female plants to produce fruit. The dark, purple berries are a food source for many birds and small mammals. Inkberry is a host plant for the laurel sphinx and pawpaw sphinx moths.

It is tolerant of occasional flooding, drought, and salt exposure and is deer resistant.

• Height: 3 to 6 feet, occasionally 10 feet
• Bloom color: Green, white
• Bloom time: June
• Hardiness zone: 5 to 9
• Salt tolerance: moderately tolerant
• Spreading habit: Root suckers form colonies

Site Conditions

• Sun: Sun/Partial shade
• Soil: Avoid neutral to alkaline soils. Prefers acidic, rich, consistently moist soils.
• Hydrologic zones: Moist/Dry

Sources

Missouri Botanical Garden 

North Carolina State Extension  

University of Maryland Extension 

Prepared by Jodi Sulpizio, Constance Schmotzer, and Jessica Chou. Peer reviewed by Scott Sjolander and Sandra Feather. Finalized by Jodi Sulpizio.