Ardisia japonica
Common name: 
Japanese Ardisia
Marlberry
Pronunciation: 
ar-DIZ-i-a ja-PON-i-ka
Family: 
Myrsinaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Low evergreen shrub, 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) high, erect branches.  Leaves simple, alternate, clustered at branch tips, oval-ovate, margins toothed, glossy dark green above, lighter and distinctly veined below.  Bloom in summer, flowers small, pendent, pale pink to white, mostly hidden by leaves.  Fruit globose, 6 mm diameter, pink to red.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 8     Native to China and Japan.  A number of cultivars, including variegated (white, pink, yellow) selections and forms with irregularly shaped and notched leaves.
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: east (front) of Student Health Center, near walk.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • leaves

    leaves

  • flowers and fruit

    flowers and fruit