Identifying Characteristics
| Size/Form: | Gallberry is an open, upright evergreen shrub that grows in clusters and measures three to nine feet tall. Young plants are dense and compact with a rounded shape. On older plants, the foliage is only on the upper half of the stems. |
| Leaves: | The 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. |
| 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. |
| Stem: | New stems are light green and slightly hairy but they gradually turn brown and smooth with age. |
| Habitat: | Gallberry frequently grows in acidic soil including flatwood forests, sandy wetlands, swamps, and frequently burned areas. |