Photinia Fraseri Red Robin

Photinia Fraseri Red Robin

Each new leaf that grows is a bright shade of bronze or red and as they mature, they turn solid dark green. It is important that you continue trimming the ends so that new leaves can form throughout the year.

If the flower buds are not removed in early spring pruning, they will open in that season later. The white flowers produced can be smelly according to some people’s opinion. The plant produces a small red pome fruit.

Growing Photinia fraseri red robin

Offering all-year round cover and attract foliage, photinia fraseri ‘red robin’ plants are a great way to add a range of colors to a garden of any size.

Why you should grow Photinia fraseri red robin

It is not just the vibrant foliage that makes this plant appreciated. Here are a few reasons why you should grow a photinia hedge:

• An evergreen species, Photinia fraseri ‘red robin’ provides a dense screen all-year round. The vibrant red foliage decorates the hedge followed by dark green leaves which provides an alternative lasting color
• Glassy medlar hedges offer seasonal interest by producing white flowers in spring and striking red berries later in the year
• It was honored with the Award of Garden Merit by The Royal Horticultural Society. This shows how a great hedging plant it is
• The plant grows well in most positions, whether shaded or sun-trapped, but prefers full sun
• It is also a low-maintenance plant, making it the ideal option for homeowners who are not pruning enthusiasts. You only need to prune it once, that’s after the new growth has worn out. That’s all it takes to keep your Photinia fraseri ‘red robin’ hedge clean. However, if you want to encourage more growth, you can prune the hedge two/three times a year
• The plant can tolerate renovation pruning, which is amazing if you have an overgrown hedge
• You can also plant Photinia fraseri ‘red robin’ any season using pot grown or cell grown plants
• It is also pollution tolerant, making it the perfect hedge plant for urban areas

Where to plant Photinia fraseri red robin

In order for a Photinia fraseri ‘red robin’ to grow into a beautiful photinia plant, you need to choose the location to plant it carefully. The plant grows well in moist, fertile and well-drained soil as well as in partial shade or full sun. The young shoots can be easily scorched by drying or cold winds and late frosts when grown in exposed area.

Photinia fraseri ‘red robin’ can tolerate most soils as long as it is mixed with manure or well-rotted compost. You should also avoid growing in chalky soils.

How to plant Photinia fraseri red robin

Follow these simple steps to plant a Photinia fraseri ‘red robin’ hedge:

1. Dig a trench twice the size of the root ball and 5 cm less than the height of the root ball. Set the soil on a tarp so that you can easily replace it. Water the trench thoroughly and leave it for one hour for the soil to soak
2. Place the photinia red robin plant on its side. Gently rake the sides of the root ball to loosen the roots and place it in the trench. If the root ball came wrapped in burlap and a wire basket, set it into the trench that way. You don’t have to cut off the wire basket. It will rot away in the ground
3. Backfill the soil and mound the remaining soil in a ring around the base of the plant, about 10 cm from the stem of the plant. Fill the moat with water and wait until the water is absorbed fully by the soil. Repeat the same procedure a second time. Use a hand cultivator to rake down the wall and fill in the moat.
4. Apply a 5-cm layer of mulch around the base of the shrub. Maintain a 5-cm space around the trunk of the plant prevent contact between the plant and the mulch. The role of the mulch is to keep the soil moist.

Tips

Trim back your photinia red robin hedge branches during winter while they are still dormant to shape them properly

Water the soil near the photinia red robin standard plant and not the leaves to prevent black leaf spot

Some well-intentioned websites and garden centers state that this Photinia fraseri ‘red robin’ can be planted 30 cm apart or less. The truth is planting this shrub at such a short distance will not allow the bush to grow fully and promotes the growth of fungus. Plant 2 to 3 Photinia fraseri plants per meter

Care of Photinia fraseri red robin

Despite being a low maintenance plant, there are a few care tips that you need to know:

• Water requirements
  Once the photinia red robin standard tree has established, it is highly tolerant to drought and doesn’t require regular watering. Keep the soil slightly moist during the first growing season, watering when the first 5 cm of the topsoil dry. Avoid wetting the leaves while watering, especially if the shrub doesn’t receive at least 6 hours of sunlight every day. After the first growth year, only water in times of drought extending beyond four weeks.
   
• Fertilization
  Photinia fraseri ‘red robin’ requires some fertilizer in many soils. If you notice that your photinia red robin tree is growing slowly, use a slow-release fertilizer in spring. In soils that are very acidic or very alkaline, the leaves may become yellow, signifying nutrient deficiency. Iron deficiency may be caused by alkaline soils, which is characterized by yellowing around the veins of the leaves. In this case, apply iron chelate to the soil and leaves to solve the problem. If the leaves start yellowing around the edges of the leaves, it may be showing signs of magnesium deficiency caused by acidic soil. Resolve this problem by applying magnesium sulfate.
   
• Pruning
  Photinia is widely used as a sheared hedge and when trimmed often, it produces flushes of red new growth. Although the new growth is attractive, it makes the shrub susceptible to diseases such as leaf spot. It is best to prune the plant in late winter and rake up the planting material afterfinishing. The plant responds well to shearing; however, it may start thinning at the bottom because of lack of sunlight. When shaping the shrub each year, cut out broken, diseases and dead branches with sharp clean pruning shears.

Diseases

Photinia fraseri ‘red robin’ is often affected by a type of leaf spot disease known as Entomosporium leaf spot. The disease starts as a small maroon spot which spreads and kills the leaf before falling off the photinia shrub. If noticed early enough, it can be controlled through fungicidal applications and pruning.

The photinia tree also suffers from root rot when grown in wet soils and fire blight that can kill the plant quickly. Although aphids may cause problems, it can be controlled by smothering application of insecticidal soap.

Cons

• Photinia x fraseri maintains its evergreen leaves, providing a dense screen all year round
• The foliage creates a dense hedge necessary for screening your home
• Grows well in shaded or sun-trapped positions
• It requires little maintenance. You only need to prune photinia x fraseri red robin twice a year. However, if you want to see more red growth, trim up to three times a year ‘
• It is the best hedge plant for growing in urban areas as it tolerates pollution
• It is known by The Royal Horticultural Society to be a fantastic hedging plant
• It can tolerate any type of soil except very alkaline and wet soils

Cons

• Susceptible to leaf spot
• Must be spaced properly to make a compact hedge
• Requires watering during the dry season

Conclusion

Photinia fraseri ‘red robin’ is an evergreen plant with deep green leaves that emerge a bright red color. The plant makes a compact hedge when trimmed well and it can grow well in all types of soil except chalky and wet soil. The leaves of standard photinia are the most attractive feature. And the fact that it won the Award of Garden Merit by The Royal Horticultural Society means that is indeed great hedge plant. It is the perfect plant for anyone who wants to add an attractive hedge to his/her landscape. It is also a low maintenance plant as you only need to prune it once a year.

If you are looking for high-quality Photinia fraseri ‘red robin’, please feel free to contact us anytime. We will provide you with the plant and expert advice.