Coralberry is a small, upright, evergreen shrub that may reach a height of 6 feet. It is native to India, Japan, and the Philippines, and a member of the Primulaceae (primrose) family. Coralberry is typically found in forests and hillsides of Japan. The genus name, Ardisia , is Greek for "Ardis." Translated means "point." This refers to the pointed anthers of the flowers. The species name, crenata , is the feminine form of the Latin word crenatus, which means " with blunt teeth." This most likely refers to the plant's crenulate or notched leaf margins. The shrub has narrow, glossy, green leaves. Clusters of small, white to pale pink flowers bloom during late spring to early summer. Berries form and gradually change from green to a glossy red color. They remain on the shrub year-round. A white and pink-fruited berry has also been cultivated. The Coralberry was introduced as an ornamental in Florida in the 1900s. It has escaped into the wild and has become invasive in parts of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. In 1995 coralberry was identified as an invasive species in Florida. In 2014 it was labeled as a noxious weed. The shrub had spread to Texas in 1997 and dominated the understory of two nature preserves. It has the potential for colonization in coastal South Carolina due to mild winters. The shrub is difficult to manage once established. Coralberry is a close relative to the marlberry (Ardisia japonica). Marlberry is a low-growing, evergreen shrub and measures only 8-12 inches in height. This shrub may also spread rapidly and can produce large colonies over time. Coralberry prefers rich acidic soil. It will not produce berries when exposed to excessive heat, and excessive sunlight causes the leaves to burn. The shrub does not tolerate flooding. The Coralberry may be grown in a container as a house plant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Coralberry has an aggressive and invasive nature. Consider native shrubs such as the native coralberry ( Symphoricarpos orbiculatus ) or American beautyberry ( Callicarpa americana ).
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Crenulate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery; Waxy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are alternate, simple, thick, glossy, leathery, and dark green in color. They measure from 4 to 8 inches long and 1-3 inches wide.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The plant has small, thick clusters of star-shaped white to pale pink flowers in lateral sprays from May to June. The flowers are inconspicuous.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Green; Pink; Red/Burgundy; White
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Following the flowers, the plant produces shiny berries that are initially green. They gradually become a glossy bright red from September to December. They usually remain on the plant until the plant flowers the following year.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Northeast India to Japan and Philippines
Distribution
Native: Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam Introduced: New South Wales, Puerto Rico, Queensland, Seychelles, and the United States--AL, FL, GA, HI, LA, TX;
Wildlife value
Songbirds and small mammals eat the berries.
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Spring; Summer; Winter
Fruit type
Drupe
Uses (ethnobotany)
The root of the plant is used as an ingredient in Chinese medicine. The plant reportedly contains a substance that may treat asthma and hypertension.