Ardisia escallonioides (Island Marlberry)

Ardisia escallonioides (Island Marlberry) is a bushy evergreen shrub or small tree with slender, upright branches clothed in thick, glossy, oblong, dark green leaves, 3-4 in. long (7-10 cm). Blooming intermittently throughout the year, with peak flowering in summer through fall, pleasantly fragrant creamy-white flowers adorned with showy yellow anthers, appear in dense, terminal clusters, 5 in. long (12 cm). They are followed by a profusion of small, edible, reddish berries that turn shiny and black when mature. Birds and small mammals feast on them. Native throughout Central and South Florida, Island Marlberry is a tough, resilient plant valued for its beauty and its resistance to drought and salt. Versatile, it can grow in sunny and shady landscapes, as a specimen plant or as an evergreen hedge or screen.

• Grows up to 12-20 ft. tall (360-600 cm) and 6-12 ft. wide (180-360 cm).
• Easily grown in sandy or calcareous, dry to moist, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade.
• Great for coastal gardens, tropical gardens, native plant gardens or as a flowering hedge or screen.
• No serious pest or disease issues.
• Can be pruned or trimmed to control shape or size
• Propagation by seed. Germination usually takes six months.
• Native to Florida and the Caribbean region.