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Gallberry
Gallberry botanical plate
Field guide plate · click to zoom

Gallberry

Ilex glabra

Honeybees are drawn to gallberry's small white flowers for nectar and pollen, yielding a dark, flavorful honey prized in southern beekeeping. Peak bloom aligns with May through July, bridging spring dearth periods. This suckering evergreen shrub thrives in wet, acidic soils but may require pruning to prevent unwanted spread in apiary landscapes.

Nectarhigh
Pollenmedium
BloomMay–July
USDA zones5-9
TypePerennial
Sunpartial
NativeEastern North America
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