Coral ardisia
Ardisia crenata
Family: Primulaceae
Natural History
Showy fruits and leaves of coral ardisia - Photo credit: Larry Korhnak, University of Florida
Coral ardisia is a low-growing shrub from Asia that was first introduced to Florida in the horticultural trade around 1900. It has attractive foliage with interesting leaf margins and bright red fruits that appear in the wintertime when most gardens could use a little color. Not surprisingly, this plant quickly picked up the common name of "Christmas berry" and was widely planted. Unfortunately, it turned out to be highly invasive.
The same features that make coral ardisia so attractive to homeowners also help make it a problem in natural areas. The showy fruit that persist on the plant year-round are very attractive to animals, including mockingbirds, cedar waxwings, and raccoons. These animals consume the fruit and subsequently distribute the seeds to new areas. When seedlings come up in a forest understory area, they can create a dense carpet of more than 100 seedlings in a square meter. The thick, evergreen leaves can then block out what little sunlight is available, making it impossible for seedlings of other plants to grow. For this reason, the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) has listed coral ardisia as a Category I invasive, meaning that it is an invasive plant that is currently altering native communities.