Family: Primulaceae

Ardisia solanacea (China shrub) is an evergreen shrub native to Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia and West China. It is sometimes used for food, medicine, and dye plant. It is also used as an ornamental plant for its evergreen leaves and showy pink flowers. It is reported to have become an invasive species in Puerto Rico, tropical Australia, Florida, the Caribbean, the Mascarene Islands, the Seychelles, and may possibly be naturalizing on Oʻahu. This plant is shade and elevation tolerant, as well as being spread easily by birds and other animals. This makes it a potential threat as an invader to our high elevation rainforests in Hawaiʻi. Therefore, it may also be a threat to our native species.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m
  
• Naturalized in Puerto Rico, Florida and is potentially naturalizing on Oʻahu
  
• Targeted for control in Queensland, Australia
  
• Other Ardisia species have become invasive
  
• Relatively unpalatable
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds and possibly other frugivorous animals

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Edible fruit
  
• Valued as a landscaping and ornamental plant
  
• Seeds unlikely to form a persistent seed bank