The leaves of the photinia are the highlight, but attractive clusters of white flowers appear in spring followed sometimes by red berries.
To achieve a thick garden hedge, you must trim early but the final height is easily managed. The more this hedging plant is cut, the more the vibrant red shoots appear.
Our recommendation is to space each plant 60 centimetres apart.
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Photinia ‘Red Robin’ (Photinia x Fraseri ‘Red Robin’) is an evergreen shrub with colourful foliage, capable of supplying interest throughout the year. The new glossy foliage emerges red in early spring, turning to a luscious green later in the year. In spring, clusters of creamy, frothy flowers appear if the buds have not been pruned off. It is a fairly fast growing plant, capable of growing over 30cm per annum on good soil.
Photinia ‘Red Robin’ (Photinia x Fraseri ‘Red Robin’) is naturally better suited well drained soil, ideally neutral to acidic but the pH is not a necessity. It also loves to be in full sun to very light shade. Though it will survive shade, the shadier it is, the less the red will show and the leggier it becomes.
The RHS suggest that Photinia ‘Red Robin’ (Photinia x Fraseri ‘Red Robin’) can survive exposed positions, however, from experience, this is not something I would recommend. It is far better suited to protected sites or at least not being fully exposed to a harsh, cold wind. The more exposed or shady the site is, the more pruning needs to occur to keep it tight. We recommend that this is done in the spring, after flowering.
Photinia ‘Red Robin’ (Photinia x Fraseri ‘Red Robin’) is hardy throughout the UK, having a RHS Hardiness rating of H5 meaning it can survive temperatures down to -15 to -10C. It is perfectly suited to hedging and screening being easily maintained between 1-4m high. It can also be used as a specimen tree and makes for a great multi stem, simply prune off the lower leaves and branches. It is versatile in its ability to be paled in more traditional gardens or lush tropical themed gardens.
The Photinia family is native to North America and Asia. Photinia ‘Red Robin’ (Photinia x Fraseri ‘Red Robin’) emerged as a hybrid as a result of Photinia glarba and Photinia serrulata being placed close to each other at Fraser Nurseries in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. A hybrid was formed and noticed amongst the young seedlings. This was called Photinia ‘Birmingham’. Clones were subsequently taken and a cultivar eventually emerged from New Zealand called Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’.
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