Tree Of the Week Photinia x Fraserii Red Robin

This hardy evergreen which can be grown as a shrub or a small tree has glossy, dark green, leathery leaves.  It is mainly grown for the new growth which bursts forth early in the spring in a fiery red, giving a stunning display.  All subsequent new flushes of growth throughout the year are also brilliant red.

This is the most common form of a group of hybrids between Photinia glabra and Photinia serrulata which was raised in New Zealand.  This evergreen is thought of mostly as a shrub but can also be trained standard tree ideal for the patio or for screening, it rarely exceeds 5 metres in height or spread so rarely gets too big. An added attraction is that when mature red robin produces a display of frothy heads of pink tinged flowers.

Together with its feature of being an evergreen ‘Red Robin’, as its name suggests, provides a colour contrast within the border. Glossy red leaves at the end of each shoot turn this otherwise laurel-like shrub into an attractive selection. It can also be grown as a hedge and prefers a sunny position.

Photinias are usually trouble-free, but can suffer from photinia leaf spot which is not fatal and is an environmental disorder linked to cold weather, rather than a disease.

As always comments and questions are welcome.

Simon