Photinia Fraseri Red Robin
The red leaves of the Photinia fraseri ‘red robin’ are the most attractive feature of the shrub.
It has bright red-tinted stems that make this plant very special, and because of the attractive leaf color, it is suitable to grow as a hedge or a solitary in the garden. The plant grows 20-31 cm tall and produces white flowers in spring if it has not been pruned in the previous season.
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.
We have added photinia fraseri as a very special plant in our collection. We sell this plant in four different dimensions; therefore, you will determine which is most suitable for your garden depending your individual preference. But of course we would be happy to offer our advice.
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.