Plants of Interest in Trails West:

coral ardisia (Ardisia crenata) aka coral berry, Christmas berry

Many of our residents will recognize this plant. It thrives in our yards and common areas. Coral ardisia was first offered at a commercial nursery in the U.S. in 1825, and in Florida by 1896. It is native to S. E. Asia, China and Japan. It’s a hardy evergreen plant that grows to about three feet tall but is capable of growing to six feet in height, with a dense collection of glossy, dark green leaves, clusters of small white flowers and shiny red pea-size berries. It became a popular ornamental because it looks gorgeous and grows well with little assistance. It is highly aggressive and harmful to native Florida plant species. This plant is classified by the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection as a Class I “Noxious Weed” or “Prohibited Aquatic Plant”. This means it is unlawful to introduce, possess, move or release any part of the plant in Florida. See the link above for more info and eradication methods.