Tall Gallberry

Ilex coriacea

General Information:

This evergreen shrub can grow up to 9 feet tall and has its leaves all year round. It produces flowers from April through May and the seeds ripen in October. The tall gallberry is not self-fertile, so it relies on bees and other insects for fertilization. Preferring moist soils, it can be found in semi-shade to no shade in swamps, bays, floodplains, by streams and swamps, and in sandy woods. 

Medicinal Uses:

There are no known medicinal uses found for the tall gallberry. 

Did You Know:

The fruits themselves are not edible for humans, but the dried and roasted  leaves have been used to make teas. The fruits themselves have traces of saponins and are slightly toxic and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and stupor if eaten in large amounts.