False Bird Cherry Plant Care

False Bird Cherry (Ehretia tinifolia) belongs to the Boraginaceae family within the Ehretia genus. False Bird Cherry is also known as Boston Ivory, Boxwood, Jamaica Boxwood.

False Bird Cherry displays a small tree or shrub growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 4 ft. False Bird Cherry produces small white or pink tubular flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.

Water a young or newly planted False Bird Cherry every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

False Bird Cherry thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Ehretia tinifolia tolerates temperatures of 60–85°F. False Bird Cherry prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for False Bird Cherry to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed False Bird Cherry every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter for moisture retention. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

False Bird Cherry is suited to USDA Zone 13a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

False Bird Cherry can spread to about 4 ft (1.2 m) and reach about 6 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 4 ft (1.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune False Bird Cherry while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

False Bird Cherry is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

False Bird Cherry can be propagated through seeds, semi-hardwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to anacua plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

False Bird Cherry is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

False Bird Cherry grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. In cooler regions, grow False Bird Cherry as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.