photinia

[ foh-tin-ee-uh ]

noun

1. any of various trees or shrubs belonging to the genus Photinia, of the rose family, having clusters of small white flowers and red, berrylike fruit.

Word History and Origins

Origin of photinia¹

< New Latin (1821) < Greek phōtein ( ós ) shining, bright, (derivative of phṓs, stem phōt- light) + New Latin -ia -ia; so named in reference to the glossy evergreen leaves and white flowers

Example Sentences

According to a study in Maryland of the 1970 Brood X appearance, delayed branch dieback occurred over the following two years in such trees as black gum, purple-leaf plum, photinia, lilac and dogwood.

From Washington Post

We ran into trouble, for instance, with such overplanted trees and shrubs as red-tip photinia, American elms, Bradford pear, English ivy and barberries.

From Washington Post

A giant old photinia, remnant of the earlier garden, shades a bench where Catherine sits to enjoy the view of the front garden after walking the dogs.

From Seattle Times

Later at work he had to remove a red tip photinia from someone’s yard, and its root was enormous.

From Literature

While apple trees and photinia bushes have enjoyed the prolonged chill, humans have been chafing for several weeks now.

From Washington Post