coral ardisia: Ardisia crenata (Ericales: Primulaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States

coral ardisia	USDA PLANTS Symbol: ARCR80 U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Shrub or Subshrub
Ardisia crenata Sims

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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Ericales: Primulaceae
Synonym(s): hen's eyes, coralberry
Native Range: Japan to North India (BAIL);
Appearance Ardisia crenata is a small shrub that ranges from 2-6 ft. (0.6-1.8 m) in height. Foliage The evergreen leaves are leathery, dark-green and 4-8 in. (10-20 cm) long. Flowers The flowers are on stalks. They are small, pink to white in axillary clusters usually drooping beneath the foliage. Blooms develop in the late spring and early summer. Fruit Fruit are rounded drupes and bright red. Each fruit contains a single seed. The seeds are easily spread by birds and other wildlife. Ecological Threat Ardisia crenata thrives in shade and deep, rich soil, but can survive in any non-saturated soil. This plant is a native of Southeast Asia and was introduced into Florida as an ornamental around 1900. Readily invades hardwood hammocks and can form dense monocultures in the forest understory. Mature plants are usually surrounded by a blanket of seedlings. It has also been seen to invade scrub, sandhill, mesic flatwoods, hydric hammocks, bottomland forests, maritime ham-mocks, lake shores, and ruderal communities. (Wunderlin and Hansen 2004).

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk -

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org

Foliage; Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); fruiting Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); fruiting Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation; Ann Murray, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Flower(s); Ann Murray, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Sarah Newman, National Ecological Observatory Network, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Sarah Newman, National Ecological Observatory Network, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org

State List
This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law.

Invasive Listing Sources:

Alabama Invasive Plant Council

Florida Invasive Plant Council - Plant List

Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council

John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.

WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States