Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Ardisia crenata Sims

Half hardy erect shrub with spiralled or alternate lance-shaped leaves, with scalloped margins, and terminal umbel-like corymbs of star-shaped pink flowers in summer, followed by ornamental, spherical red berries.  To 1.5m.  [RHSE].  Don describes Ardisia crenulata Vent. as having reddish-violet flowers followed by black berries.  

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘It is a neat little shrub, producing flowers and fruit nearly the whole year round: we have plants not above three inches high quite loaded.’  [LBC no.2, 1817].  ‘This useful stove shrub forms an object of considerable beauty during the greater part of the year, being almost always covered with pretty coral-like berries’.  [Gard. Chron. 1854].  ‘It takes up so little room, and is so easily propagated by cuttings, that it is deserving a place in every greenhouse, where it will do as well as in the stove; being hardier than any of the other species. […] There are other species that have the leaves somewhat crenated at the margin, but in none is this character so remarkable as in our present plant; we prefer, therefore, crenata to the Nurseryman’s name of crenulata.’  The plant figured was obtained from Loddidges’ Nursery in 1816.  [BM t.1950/1819].  Ardisia crenulata was first cultivated in England in 1809.  [JD].

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1857 catalogue [T.66/1857] although it was received per ‘Sovereign’ February 1831.  [MP A2948].  This importation was probably lost and plants were also obtained from the Sydney Botanic Garden on 17th October 1853 [RBGS AB].

Notes

Ardisia crenulata Vent. (1803) = Parathesis crenulata Hook.f. ex Hemsl., a Mexican species.

Published Feb 25, 2009 - 03:39 PM | Last updated Feb 23, 2010 - 01:16 PM

Shown are lance-shaped leaves with scalloped margins and star-shaped pink flowers.  Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.1950, 1819.

Ardisia crenata Sims | BM t.1950/1819 | BHL

Family Myrsinaceae
Category
Region of origin

South East Asia

Synonyms
  • Ardisia crenulata Lodd.
  • Ardisia crispa A.DC.

Common Name

Coral berry, Spice berry

Name in the Camden Park Record

Ardisia crenulata 

Confidence level high