Pinky Promise Coralberry
Pinky Promise Coralberry
A Compact Shrub Covered in Rosy-Pink Berries
Pinky Promise Coralberry (Symphoricarpos 'Pinky Promise') brings the showy pink-berry display of coralberry to a tidier, more compact shrub that fits smaller gardens. Arching branches line themselves with rosy-pink berries from late summer into winter, following small bee-friendly summer flowers. Tough, adaptable, and deer-resistant, it's a charming berry shrub for foundations, low borders, and naturalized spots in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove.
Pinky Promise Coralberry Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Symphoricarpos 'Pinky Promise' |
| Mature Size | 2–3 ft. tall, 2–4 ft. wide |
| Hardiness Zone | 3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy) |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Bloom Time | Summer (small flowers), showy berries late summer into winter |
| Flower Color | Small pink flowers; rosy-pink berries follow |
| Soil | Adaptable — tolerates clay, poor soil, and dry sites |
| Winter Hardiness | Reliable to -40°F — an exceptionally tough shrub |
| Deer Resistance | Rarely browsed by deer |
Landscape Uses in Minnesota
Compact berry display: Its smaller size fits foundations and low borders while still delivering a showy pink-berry display. Space 3 feet apart.
Naturalized borders and wildlife: Birds eat the berries and bees visit the flowers. Pair with native viburnums, dogwoods, and grasses.
Best Time to Plant in Minnesota
Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September). Very adaptable; water through establishment.
How to Plant Pinky Promise Coralberry
Dig a hole twice the root ball width at the same depth, mixing in compost. Set the crown level, backfill, water well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep. Space 3 feet apart.
Watering Pinky Promise Coralberry
First year: Water deeply every 2–3 days at first, then weekly. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes.
After year one: Drought-tolerant — water only during extended dry spells.
Q: How big does it get?
A compact 2 to 3 feet — smaller than typical coralberry, ideal for tighter spaces.
Q: Are the berries edible?
They're ornamental and for the birds, not for people.
Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Easily — one of the toughest, hardiest shrubs available.
Q: Is it deer-resistant?
Yes — deer rarely browse it.
You May Also Like
Candy Coralberry (Symphoricarpos): A larger pink-berried relative with big fruit.
Red Snowberry (Symphoricarpos): Another tough berry shrub for wildlife.
Lil' Ditty Viburnum (Viburnum cassinoides): A dwarf native berry shrub.