Abstract: Ardisia crenata has broad potential commercial application with both ornamental and medicinal value. The morphological structure, photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of A. crenata in three different habitats, namely in forest understory, greenhouse, and open air, were measured and analyzed to provide reference for cultivation and popularizaiton of A. crenata. The results showed that: (1) The plant height, first branch height, longest branch length, canopy width, branch diameter, leaf width, stem diameter at ground level, leaf number on the longest branch, and branch number of A. crenata in the forest understory were significantly higher than those in the greenhouse and open air habitats. The leaf length was significantly higher than that in the open air habitat and slightly higher than that in the greenhouse habitat. The leaf thickness was significantly lower than that in the open air habitat and slightly lower than that in the greenhouse habitat; (2) The intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci) of A. crenata in the forest understory were significantly lower than those in the greenhouse and open air habitats, while the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and transpiration rate (Tr) were significantly higher than those in the greenhouse and open air habitats. The canopy stomatal conductance (Gs) were slightly lower than those in the greenhouse habitat and significantly lower than those in the open air habitat; (3) The initial fluorescence (Fo) of A. crenata in the forest understory was significantly lower than those in the greenhouse and open air habitats, while the maximum fluorescence (Fm) was significantly higher than those in the greenhouse and open air habitats. No significant differences in the maximum PSII light energy conversion efficiency (Fv/Fm) and actual photochemical efficiency of PSII (ΦPSII) of A. crenata among the forest, greenhouse and open air habitats. The photochemical quenching (qP) in the forest was slightly lower than that in the greenhouse habitat and significantly lower than that in the open air habitat. Non-photochemical quenching (qN) was slightly higher than that in the greenhouse habitat and significantly higher than that in the open air habitat. In the forest understory habitat, the morphological structure is the best and the photosynthetic utilization efficiency is the highest, so the forest understory habitat is the best for A. crenata growth.