There are these types of shrubs or trees that, upon first glance, hold a special place in your heart. The Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ is undoubtedly is one of those. The versatile plant is one of our personal favourites, and it doesn’t need a lot of explanation as to why. Just look at it! You’ll find multiple breath-taking Photinia’s at the Tendercare nursery in Denham, from small ornamental shrub to a pleached tree and from lollipop-shaped tree to artfully pruned shrub. Which one is your favourite?
Fall in love with the Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin'
Whether it’s the red to bronze leaves that caught your eye or the tiny white flowers that grabbed your attention, the evergreen Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ is a shrub or tree that you can’t help but fall in love with. The versatile plant, sometimes referred to as ‘Christmas berry’, is fully hardy in almost all areas of the UK and grows best in full sun to part shade and in well-drained soil.
The ornamental value of its leaves
The Photinia is a fast grower that tolerates pruning pretty well, making it easy to prune to the desired height and in the desired shape. The hardy plant has exceptional ornamental value because of the change in the colour of its leaves. The leaves of the Photinia fraseri 'Red Robin' are bright red when young, maturing to a leathery green oval shape of about 10 centimetres at the end of the seasons. During the coldest of months, when the garden looks sad and brown, the Christmas berry will thus brighten your outdoor space with its glossy green leaves. Small, white flowers take the stage in early spring.
Did you know… Photinia means ‘bright’ or ‘luminous’ in Greek? This shrub is therefore also characterised by its shiny leaves that can strongly reflect the light. In its original environment, in the mountains of Asia, it caught a lot of sunbeams. The Photinia is often used as a solitary ornamental shrub, hedge plant, or standard tree with its crown pruned into a particular shape. It is a low-maintenance plant that has few diseases and pests. It does prefer some shelter from the wind, especially during severe frost.
Buy your Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin' at Tendercare Nurseries
March is the best time for pruning. To have red leaves all year round, you can give the tree a second pruning in summer. You will then have red shoots again in fall; however, it will flower less in spring. It’s all up to you! Add a Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ to your garden today, and you won’t be disappointed. The mature plant range here at Tendercare is quite extensive. Plan your private shopping experience at our nursery to pick out your favourite Photinia or have a look around in our online shop. We also offer landscaping services and installations, and garden design services. Don’t hesitate to contact us to go over the possibilities. We ship nationwide!