Ardisia escallonioides

Marlberry, Marbleberry

Myrsinaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:	Shrub
Life Span:	Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:	White
Fruit Color:	Black
Phenology:	Evergreen
Noted for:	Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:	Specimen plant or hedge.
Considerations:	Weak wood.
Propagation:	Seed, but it may take 6 months to germinate.
Availability:	Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales
Light:	Full Sun,  Part Shade
Moisture Tolerance:	always floodedextremely dry
	(Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods)
Moisture Tolerance:	Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:	Tolerant of inundation with brackish water
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:	Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
Soil or other substrate:	Sand
Soil pH:	Alkaline

Ecology

Wildlife:	Birds eat the berries.
Insects:	Attracts Halictid bees.
Native Habitats:	Moist to dry hammocks

Distribution and Planting Zones

Comments

General Comments:

Known for its sweet smelling flowers. Don't confuse this native with the two highly invasive ardisias: coral ardisia (A. crentata) and shoebutton ardisia (A. elliptica).