Scientific Name: Ardisia elliptica (was Ardisia humilis)

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  • Common Name:
    Large Ardisia
  • Type:
    Shrub or small tree
  • Status:
    WEED This introduced plant has escaped into local bushland. Without natural predators to keep it in check, it is out-competing native species.
  • Flowers:
    Mauve, pale pink, white
  • Fruit:
    berry
  • Species List:
    Leslie Drive Roundabout, Weyba Esp, Heritage Park, BSDoonan, weeds,
Cultural Notes

Native of Asia and Malesia from Japan (Ryuku Islands) to New Guinea and across to southern India.

Identification Notes

Branchlets hairless. Leaves dull, gland-dotted below, margins entire; on stalks 0.5–1 cm long.|| Leathery leaves 6–12 cm long, 1.5–5 cm wide, with margins rolled under; red-tinged new foliage; flowers in umbels in leaf axils; corolla (joined petals) pink or white, lobes 5, gland-dotted; fruit, fleshy, single-seeded, about 8 mm wide, turning red as they mature and dark purple to black at maturity.(National Weeds Strategy)

Associated Fauna

Spread by bird- and mammal-dispersed seed.

Landscaping Notes

CONTROL METHODS:||Physical: Hand pull seedlings.|| Chemical: "In areas with a dense groundcover of seedlings, a broadcast spray of a glyphosate herbicide is effective, but be careful to avoid damaging desirable plants. Mature specimens should be treated with a basal application of a triclopyhr herbicide mixed with an oil diluent" (Hammer, 1996).