Have Yourself a Berry Little Christmas
I’ve passed through a few local garden centers during the past few weeks and I have to say
that I am quite overwhelmed by the volume of holiday plants that have hit the
stores in such a short period of time. Not only are the houseplant sections of
retailers jammed with plants, but there are boxes of them nearby waiting to be
unloaded. One of the local supermarkets has Poinsettias practically hanging
from the ceiling; I’ve never seen so many in one store. Are they expecting a
mob of Poinsettia-crazed customers to show up one day?
Although there is an abundance of selection, most of the places I’ve visited are selling
the usual favourites: Poinsettias, Christmas Cacti, Amaryllis Bulbs,
Paperwhites, Cyclamens, Hyacinths and Kalanchoes. And since I already have all
of them - minus the Cyclamen - you can imagine how difficult it is to feel any enthusiasm
when I’m passing through a houseplant section in any of these stores lately.
Yes, the beautiful flowers are eye candy for a plant lover’s soul, but seeing
the same old plants - with nothing new to buy - brings on that ho-hum feeling sooner
or later.
Regardless of that, I still strolled through gardening section after gardening section,
never stopping, not even for a second, to inspect something up close. Nothing
of interest caught my eye so I just kept moving along. I did notice a few
decorative baskets and festive pots that included an ensemble of popular
foliage and flowering plants, but they didn’t entice me no matter how charming
they were. Either I didn’t like one or two of the plants included, or I already
had most of them. And so it went for a few weeks.
Then one day, I put the brakes on when I spotted something ‘different’. I moseyed on
over to the object of curiosity and was quite pleased by its unique form. A
bushy mass of dark green, leathery leaves with serrated edges are borne high
above an erect stem, giving this plant the rightful look of a small tree. But
the attractive foliage was not the only thing that caught my eye. Bright red
berries hung in clusters beneath the glossy leaves. This was one of the most
interesting plants I’d ever seen offered during the holidays. It was tagged
properly in terms of its name, but since I’d never seen it before, I was
completely clueless about its care requirements, whether or not it was truly suitable
for the indoors and if it was just another temporary, disposable specimen –
something I wasn’t in the mood for. So I didn’t bring one home.
Needless to say that when I found out that this handsome, evergreen shrub was
recommended for growing indoors and long-lived, I regretted not picking one up.
In addition, by the time I did get a chance to go to the store where they were being
sold, they were all gone.
The plant that I’m referring to is the Ardisia Crenata, occasionally sold as A. Crispa, and
commonly-known as Coralberry or Spiceberry. And even though I missed the
opportunity to pick one up, I’d still like to share what I’ve learned about it.
A Very Berry Shrub
Ardisia Crenata is a handsome, slow-growing shrub that eventually reaches a height of two
to three feet indoors. Belonging to the Myrsinaceae family of plants, this easy
to grow plant is native to the warm regions of Southeast Asia. In the spring it produces tiny
white or pink flowers shaped like a star but fairly inconspicuous. It’s the
successive bright red fruit that is quite showy and the reason why the Ardisia
Crenata qualifies as a holiday plant.
At the end of August or beginning of September, the plant produces a scant amount of
berries that are green when they first emerge and gradually change to shades of
coral as they begin to ripen. By the month of October the fruit (not for human
consumption) will turn a scarlet red as it fully ripens. November and December
are the peak months for the berry display, just in time for the holidays. Those
scarlet clusters of fruit can last as long as six months, sometimes more. You definitely
get your money’s worth with this lovely plant.
Keep your berry producer in a bright spot, out of direct sunlight. Midday sun must be
avoided but a little morning sun from an eastern location does not hurt. While the plant
is actively growing, keep the soil moist at all times, watering thoroughly during each
application. When growth slows down, do not water until the medium is fairly
dry. Never allow the root ball to dry out completely.
Above average humidity is essential to this plant’s overall health. Dry, hot air can
cause flower bud loss and the premature dropping of berries. Increase moisture
levels by misting frequently, by placing the plant on a pebble tray or by
adding a humidifier nearby. A cooler temperature of about 15°C (59°F) is preferred
if you can provide it, but 18°C (65°F) will be tolerated quite well.
This plant becomes less appealing as it ages, and although many growers discard and replace
it, you can revitalize it each year by cutting it back heavily in early spring. With proper
care and yearly pruning, the Ardisia will remain attractive and produce flowers each year
for a long time to come.
Don’t miss the opportunity to grow one of these wonderful plants like I did. If you
see one at a local store, pick it up and have yourself a very berry Christmas.
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