When does Ilex glabra bloom?

Ilex glabra blooms in May and June, producing small white flowers along its stems.

What kind of light does Ilex glabra prefer?

It grows best in part sun, tolerating conditions from full sun to part shade, with fuller flowering and denser form in brighter light.

How much water does Ilex glabra need?

This shrub prefers medium moisture but tolerates wetter sites, making it a good fit for rain gardens, pond edges, and low spots that stay damp after rain.

Does Ilex glabra attract pollinators?

Its small spring flowers draw bees, butterflies, and beetles, which visit for nectar and pollen during the May and June bloom period.

Is Ilex glabra evergreen?

Yes, it keeps its small, dark green leaves year round, which makes it useful as a structural or hedge planting in mixed borders.

Is Appalachian-tea toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Appalachian-tea as toxic to livestock.

Is Appalachian-tea HOA-friendly?

Appalachian-tea is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Appalachian-tea

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Ilex glabra

Last reviewed: September 2026

Ilex glabra is an evergreen shrub that blooms in May and June with small white flowers, thriving in part sun and medium to consistently moist soil along woodland edges and wetland margins.

Toxicity unknown

Appalachian-tea (Ilex glabra) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Appalachian-tea as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

36"–96" H × 36"–96" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 16 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Piedmont Northeastern Coastal Zone Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Southern Coastal Plain Southern Florida Coastal Plain Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Inkberry holly is a versatile native evergreen shrub that forms dense, rounded clumps with small glossy leaves. It produces tiny white flowers in late spring followed by black berries on female plants. This adaptable shrub tolerates various soil conditions and can be pruned to maintain desired size and shape.

Growing Appalachian-tea

Grow Appalachian-tea in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 36 to 96 inches tall and spread 36 to 96 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Appalachian-tea is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Wildlife value

Host plant for Henry's Elfin butterfly.

The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and beetles during bloom season. Female plants produce berries that provide food for birds through winter months.

Common questions

When does Ilex glabra bloom?: Ilex glabra blooms in May and June, producing small white flowers along its stems.
What kind of light does Ilex glabra prefer?: It grows best in part sun, tolerating conditions from full sun to part shade, with fuller flowering and denser form in brighter light.
How much water does Ilex glabra need?: This shrub prefers medium moisture but tolerates wetter sites, making it a good fit for rain gardens, pond edges, and low spots that stay damp after rain.
Does Ilex glabra attract pollinators?: Its small spring flowers draw bees, butterflies, and beetles, which visit for nectar and pollen during the May and June bloom period.
Is Ilex glabra evergreen?: Yes, it keeps its small, dark green leaves year round, which makes it useful as a structural or hedge planting in mixed borders.
Is Appalachian-tea toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Appalachian-tea as toxic to livestock.
Is Appalachian-tea HOA-friendly?: Appalachian-tea is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Appalachian-tea? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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