# Christmas berry (*Pourthiaea villosa*) Christmas berry is a cheerful plant that grows bright red berries during the holiday season. Its shiny leaves and colorful fruits make it a favorite in gardens and decorations. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Christmas berry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Photinia_villosa_2015-06-01_OB_059.jpg&width=800) Photo: Salicyna, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Photinia_villosa_2015-06-01_OB_059.jpg) ## Appearance The Christmas berry is a deciduous shrub or small tree with glossy green leaves that ignite into fiery reds and oranges in autumn. It displays clusters of small white flowers in spring, followed by abundant, bright scarlet berries that persist through winter, making it distinctively vibrant. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Pourthiaea ## Interesting facts - Birds love its juicy red berries so much, they accidentally help plant new Christmas berry trees! - Even though it's called Christmas berry, it's actually a relative of roses, but without the thorns! - In autumn, its leaves turn such a vibrant red, it looks like the tree is on fire with color! - Its scientific name, \*villosa\*, means 'hairy,' referring to the tiny fuzz on its new twigs! ## Special abilities - **Winter Feast Provider:** Christmas berry has bright red berries that stay on its branches all winter, providing crucial food for birds when other food is scarce. - **Autumn Color Show:** Christmas berry can change its green leaves into stunning shades of red and orange in fall, attracting attention and helping it thrive. - **Tough Survivor:** Christmas berry has the ability to grow in many different soil types and conditions, helping it survive in various environments. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-600 cm - **Spread:** 300-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — They visit its small white flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robins feast on its persistent red berries in winter, spreading seeds. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — Bluebirds also rely on its berries for food during colder months. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat the berries without asking an adult, as some plants can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Christmas berry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Christmas berry? 300-600 cm ### How wide does Christmas berry spread? 300-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on Christmas berry? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Christmas berry bloom? Spring ### Is Christmas berry edible? No ### Is Christmas berry toxic? Mild ### What is Christmas berry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Russian Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/russian-village-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [South Britain Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-britain-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Goose Island State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/goose-island-state-park) — Texas, US · State Park - [King Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/king-ranch) — Texas, US · Historic Site [View all places to see Christmas berry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/christmas-berry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Christmas berry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/christmas-berry)