Practical
Plants

Ardisia crispa

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Ardisia genus in the family Myrsinaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Ardisia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
1.2 m
Spread
2 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw. Used in salads[3].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The root is antidotal and diuretic[3]. An infusion is pectoral[3]. The plant is crushed and applied to scurf, it is also applied to the ears in the treatment of earache[3].

Product or use
Antidote
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Pectoral

Environment

Range
E. Asia - S. China, Japan, India.
Habitat
Woods in low mountains, C. and S. Japan[5]. Mixed or broad-leaved forests, damp places, bamboo woods, hillsides and valleys at elevations of 100 - 2500 metres[4].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best harvested when it is ripe in the winter and sown immediately in a greenhouse[1]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, once the plants are 20cm or more tall. Cuttings of half-ripe wood in summer[2]. Grow on in cool, shaded humid conditions until well rooted[2].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained humus rich soil in partial shade in a position sheltered from cold drying winds[2]. We are not sure if this plant is hardy outdoors in Britain. One report says that it is hardy in zone 7 (tolerating temperatures down to between -10 and -15°c) but then goes on to suggest that it is best grown in pots or tubs outdoors and moved into a cold greenhouse in the winter[2]. There are some named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[2]. The plant has creeping rhizomes[4]. There has been some confusion between this species and A. crenata, the name Ardisia crispa was misapplied by de Candolle to Ardisia crenata[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  3. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

Edit this page