Ardisia crenata (coralberry, "Manryo")

Japanese name: マンリョウ （万両）
Scientific name: Ardisia crenata

[Overview]
An evergreen low shrub found in evergreen forests.
It is about 30–100 cm tall, with erect stems that branch in the upper part.
Leaves are simple and alternate, oblong, 7–15 cm long and 2–4 cm wide, with pointed tips and wavy teeth on the margins.
The leaves are hairless on both sides, slightly glossy on the upper surface, thick, and dark green tinged with reddish brown.
The leaves have small bright dots and fine blackish brown dots, which remain slightly raised when the leaves dry.
The leaf stalk is 8–12 mm long.
Umbel-like to corymb-like inflorescences emerge from the leaf axils.
The flowers are white, about 8 mm across; the corolla is 5-lobed with the tips curled back.
The fruit is spherical, 6–8 mm across, and ripens red.

[History]
Because its leaves stay green even in winter and it bears red fruit in winter, it has long been planted in gardens as an auspicious plant and used for New Year alcove decorations and flower arrangements.
It is one of the classical horticultural plants, and in the Edo period many cultivars were created, differing in leaf variation and fruit color.
There were also cultivation booms from the Meiji period to the early Showa period.
About 80 cultivars are said to survive today.

[Uses]
The root is called shushakon as a crude drug and is used medicinally.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or cuttings.
For seed, completely remove the pulp from fully ripe fruit, leaving only the seeds, and sow them immediately.
A bright shady place with well-drained, moderately moist, fertile soil and no exposure to strong wind is suitable.
In winter, protect it from cold wind, and in cold regions provide protection against the cold.
For potted plants, water when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the garden, watering is unnecessary unless the soil becomes extremely dry.
Excess moisture causes root rot.
Fertilizer is not particularly needed.
If it grows too large, only the trunk stands out and it looks leggy, so it is good to air-layer it at a suitable height and retrain it.
For air layering, in early summer strip a ring of bark, wrap it in well-moistened sphagnum moss, and cover it with plastic to encourage rooting.
After roots form, plant it in a pot.
Scale insects can occur.

[Notes]
The Japanese name Manryo was given because both its fruits and leaves are larger than those of Yabukoji (Juryo) and Senryo (Senryo).

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