Inkberry is medium-sized evergreen shrub, common in the Coastal Plain, rare in the Piedmont of North Carolina. The shrub is named for its drupes (commonly called berries), which are black as ink.

Scotland Co., NC 11/1/08.

Scotland Co., NC 11/1/08.

Ripening drupes are reddish.

Robeson Co., NC 10/4/2009.

The thick, evergreen leaves are very smooth. Large Gallberry (I. coriacea) is similar, but has broader leaves and slightly broader and flatter fruits.

Scotland Co., NC 6/6/03.

A male shrub flowering.

Green Swamp, Brunswick Co., NC 5/15/04.

Flower detail of same plant. These flowers are 6-parted; Inkberry flowers range from 5-7 parts.

Green Swamp, Brunswick Co., NC 5/15/04.

Male flowers.

Dare Co., NC 6/1/07.

Male flowers.

Dare Co., NC 6/1/07.

The drupes turn from pale green to black as ink as they ripen.

Carteret Co., NC 8/27/06.

The drupes may persist through the winter into the next spring.

Pender Co., NC 4/23/06.