Ardisia escallonioides (Marlberry, Marbleberry)
Botanical Information
| Family | Myrsinaceae |
| Genus | Ardisia |
| Species | escallonioides |
| Category | Tropicals |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| References | Gilman, E. F., Klein, R. W., & Hansen, G. (2018, December 07). Ardisia escallonioides Marlberry. Retrieved May 10, 2019, from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp048 |
| Origin | Florida to Mesoamerica. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | Edible fruit. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 8-10 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 9 |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H4 - H5 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Height | 4 - 6 m |
| Spread | 2 - 4 m |
| Flowering Period | January, February |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | Marlberry is great in mixed group and background plantings. It can be trained into a small tree by removing lower foliage and branches to expose the interesting trunk pattern. |
| Landscape | Plant as a hedge or as a screen, or in the border. It attracts butterflies to the garden and is considered a pollinator plant. |
| Propagation | By seed. |
| Notable Specimens | Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida, United States of America. |
| Leaf Description | Oval shaped, 10 cm green leaves. |
| Flower Description | White flowered. |
| Fruit Description | Red, round fruit, less than 1 cm in length, which birds like to consume. |
Photographs
Ardisia escallonoides, form. Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida, United States of America.
Ardisia escallonoides, leaf. Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida, United States of America.
Ardisia escallonoides, fruit. Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Florida, United States of America.