spearflower; Ardisia japonica
A small evergreen shrub native to East Asia, often used in traditional New Year's decorations and as a garden plant. The name is usually written in kana.
Spearflower is often used in New Year's decorations.
Spearflower grows in clusters in the corner of the garden.
Manryō (Ardisia crenata) is a related plant with red berries, also used in New Year's decorations, but it is a different species.
Senryō (Sarcandra glabra) is another plant with red berries used similarly, but it belongs to a different genus.
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
Kanji form; rarely used in practice.
Variant kanji form; even less common.
The name ヤブコウジ literally means 'bush pepper' (藪 yabu 'thicket' + 柑子 kōji 'citrus'), possibly referring to its small red fruits resembling citrus. The exact derivation is uncertain.