• Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Ardisia escallonioides

marlberry, marbleberry

Nomenclature

Common Name:

marlberry, marbleberry

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Ardisia escallonioides

Family:

Myrsinaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

3-15 (20) ft tall by 3-8 ft wide.  Taller in southern Florida than to the north.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

black

Phenology:

Evergreen. Flowers intermittently throughout the year.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Hurricane Wind Resistance, Interesting Foliage, Interesting Bark

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant or hedge.

Considerations:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

circum-neutral to somewhat alkaline

Suitable to Grow In:

9A,9B,10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds

Attracts Halictid bees.

Birds eat the berries.

Native Habitats:

Moist to dry hammocks

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Fruit is edible.

General Comments:

Don't confuse this native with the two highly invasive ardisias: coral ardisia (A. crentata) and shoebutton ardisia (A. elliptica).



While this will grown in full shade, it blooms better in part sun to sun.