Fire Chokecherry Plant Care

Fire Chokecherry (Pyrus anthyllidifolia) belongs to the Rosaceae family within the Pyrus genus. Fire Chokecherry is native to Hawaiʻi, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Pitcairn Island, and Rapa Iti, Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Fire Chokecherry is also known as Western Chokecherry.

Fire Chokecherry displays an upright, spreading tree growth habit, reaching up to 30 ft tall with a spread of approximately 20 ft. Fire Chokecherry produces clusters of white or pink blossoms.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Fire Chokecherry 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.

Fire Chokecherry thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Pyrus anthyllidifolia tolerates temperatures of 50–90°F. Fire Chokecherry prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining loamy soil with good organic content. Good drainage is essential for Fire Chokecherry to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Fire Chokecherry 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 loamy soil with good organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Fire Chokecherry is suited to USDA Zone 9a – 11b.

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.

Fire Chokecherry can spread to about 20 ft (6.1 m) and reach about 30 ft (9 m) tall. Space plants about 20 ft (6.1 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 Fire Chokecherry 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.

Fire Chokecherry is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 9). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Fire Chokecherry can be propagated through seeds, grafting, hardwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to asian pear plant care, which shares the same genus.

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

Fire Chokecherry is susceptible to aphids, codling moth, pear psylla. 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.

Fire Chokecherry grows outdoors in USDA Zone 9a – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 9a. Fire Chokecherry is native to Hawaiʻi, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Pitcairn Island, and Rapa Iti, Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. In cooler regions, grow Fire Chokecherry as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.