Leaves
The Gallberry's leathery leaves are simple, alternate, and persistent. They are usually ½" to 1½" long, ¼" to 1" wide, and elliptic in outline. The leaf surface is shiny yellowish green above and lighter green with tiny red glands below. The leaf margin is entire with several, usually 3, small teeth on the upper margin.

Flowers
Tiny creamy white flowers appear half-hidden in the Gallberry foliage in late spring. On male plants the flowers are borne in clusters, whereas female plants bear single flowers.

Fruit
The fruit is a dry, round, shiny, black drupe, about ¼" wide. The solitary fruits persist throughout most of winter and contain five to seven seeds.

Stems
New Gallberry stems are light green and slightly hairy but they gradually turn brown and smooth with age.

Propagation
The Gallberry readily sprouts from root crowns and rhizomes and may be propagated from stem cuttings, root cuttings, or suckers.

Landscape usage
Gallberry may be used in foundation shrubbery, mass plantings, or informal hedges and borders, as well as in naturalistic landscapes, ecological restoration projects, or habitat enhancement plantings. It is also good for seaside plantings.

Interesting Facts
Bobwhite, turkeys, bluebirds, brown thrashers, hermit thrushes, and other birds frequently eat gallberry fruits and raccoons, coyotes, and opossums feed on them when other food is scarce. Marsh rabbits and white tailed deer browse on the leaves and black bears even eat them on occasion. Gallberry is also an important honey plant. Bees feeding on it produce a highly flavorful amber colored honey.

Gallberry shrub.
.

Gallberry fruit

For more detailed information on this plant go to:
Volusia Extension