Rosaceae
Photinia × fraseri
Build an instant-looking hedge that keeps getting better. Red Tip Photinia delivers a premium evergreen screen with dramatic red new growth that pops against glossy green foliage. It’s tough, fast to fill in, and easy to shape—perfect for privacy, entrances, and boundary planting. Plant it once, prune for thickness, and enjoy a bold, polished landscape all year.
1. Basic Identification
Common Name: Red Tip Photinia
Botanical Name: Photinia × fraseri
Arabic Name: فيتونيا
Variety: Standard
Plant Color: Colored
Country of Origin: Turkey
2. Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Photinia
Species: Photinia × fraseri
3. Origin & Distribution
Photinia × fraseri is a hybrid of garden origin, resulting from a cross between Photinia glabra and Photinia serratifolia. It was first discovered at the Fraser Nursery in Birmingham, Alabama, around 1940. Due to its ornamental value, it has been widely distributed across temperate and subtropical regions globally, including the Mediterranean and Turkey.
4. Visual Characteristics
The hallmark of this plant is its brilliant, bronzy-red new foliage that emerges in spring, eventually maturing to a deep, glossy dark green. The leaves are leathery, elliptical, and finely serrated. In late spring, it produces large, flat-topped clusters (panicles) of small, creamy-white flowers that have a distinct, somewhat pungent scent.
5. Size & Dimensions
This is a large, fast-growing evergreen shrub that typically reaches a height and spread of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters). When used as a hedge, it is often maintained via pruning at 6 to 8 feet in height.
6. Light Requirements
For the most vibrant red foliage and the best resistance to disease, Red Tip Photinia should be planted in full sun. It can tolerate partial shade, but the colors may be less intense and the growth less dense.
7. Watering Needs
It requires moderate watering. While the plant needs regular moisture during its establishment phase (the first year), mature specimens are moderately drought-tolerant. It is important to avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal issues on the leaves.
8. Soil & Potting
Prefers fertile, well-draining soil with an acidic to neutral pH. It does not perform well in heavy clay or waterlogged soils, which can lead to root rot. If grown in containers, use a high-quality potting mix with excellent drainage.
9. Temperature & Humidity
The plant is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9. It thrives in moderate temperatures and can tolerate heat. However, it requires good air circulation, especially in humid environments, to minimize the risk of leaf spot diseases.
10. Fertilization
Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a fertilizer formulated for evergreen shrubs in early spring. Avoid heavy late-season fertilization, as this can stimulate soft new growth that may be damaged by early frosts.
11. Maintenance & Care Level
Rated as a medium care level plant. It requires regular pruning once or twice a year to maintain its shape as a hedge and to encourage the growth of the signature red leaves. Fallen leaves should be cleared away to prevent the spread of fungal spores.
12. Growth & Propagation
It is a fast grower, often gaining 1 to 2 feet per year. Propagation is most successful via semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late summer or early autumn.
13. Common Problems
The most common issue is Entomosporium leaf spot, a fungus that causes small red spots to appear on the leaves. It can also be susceptible to aphids, scale insects, and fire blight in certain climates.
14. Benefits & Uses
Widely used as a living privacy screen, windbreak, or ornamental hedge. Its dense growth and striking color changes make it a favorite for boundary plantings and landscape accents. It is also effective for erosion control on slopes.
15. Toxicity & Safety
Red Tip Photinia contains cyanogenic glycosides, which are toxic to horses, cattle, and domestic pets like dogs and cats if leaves are ingested in large quantities. It is considered safe for human handling but is not edible.
Photinia × fraseri
Build an instant-looking hedge that keeps getting better. Red Tip Photinia delivers a premium evergreen screen with dramatic red new growth that pops against glossy green foliage. It’s tough, fast to fill in, and easy to shape—perfect for privacy, entrances, and boundary planting. Plant it once, prune for thickness, and enjoy a bold, polished landscape all year.
1. Basic Identification
Common Name: Red Tip Photinia
Botanical Name: Photinia × fraseri
Arabic Name: فيتونيا
Variety: Standard
Plant Color: Colored
Country of Origin: Turkey
2. Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Photinia
Species: Photinia × fraseri
3. Origin & Distribution
Photinia × fraseri is a hybrid of garden origin, resulting from a cross between Photinia glabra and Photinia serratifolia. It was first discovered at the Fraser Nursery in Birmingham, Alabama, around 1940. Due to its ornamental value, it has been widely distributed across temperate and subtropical regions globally, including the Mediterranean and Turkey.
4. Visual Characteristics
The hallmark of this plant is its brilliant, bronzy-red new foliage that emerges in spring, eventually maturing to a deep, glossy dark green. The leaves are leathery, elliptical, and finely serrated. In late spring, it produces large, flat-topped clusters (panicles) of small, creamy-white flowers that have a distinct, somewhat pungent scent.
5. Size & Dimensions
This is a large, fast-growing evergreen shrub that typically reaches a height and spread of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters). When used as a hedge, it is often maintained via pruning at 6 to 8 feet in height.
6. Light Requirements
For the most vibrant red foliage and the best resistance to disease, Red Tip Photinia should be planted in full sun. It can tolerate partial shade, but the colors may be less intense and the growth less dense.
7. Watering Needs
It requires moderate watering. While the plant needs regular moisture during its establishment phase (the first year), mature specimens are moderately drought-tolerant. It is important to avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal issues on the leaves.
8. Soil & Potting
Prefers fertile, well-draining soil with an acidic to neutral pH. It does not perform well in heavy clay or waterlogged soils, which can lead to root rot. If grown in containers, use a high-quality potting mix with excellent drainage.
9. Temperature & Humidity
The plant is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9. It thrives in moderate temperatures and can tolerate heat. However, it requires good air circulation, especially in humid environments, to minimize the risk of leaf spot diseases.
10. Fertilization
Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a fertilizer formulated for evergreen shrubs in early spring. Avoid heavy late-season fertilization, as this can stimulate soft new growth that may be damaged by early frosts.
11. Maintenance & Care Level
Rated as a medium care level plant. It requires regular pruning once or twice a year to maintain its shape as a hedge and to encourage the growth of the signature red leaves. Fallen leaves should be cleared away to prevent the spread of fungal spores.
12. Growth & Propagation
It is a fast grower, often gaining 1 to 2 feet per year. Propagation is most successful via semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late summer or early autumn.
13. Common Problems
The most common issue is Entomosporium leaf spot, a fungus that causes small red spots to appear on the leaves. It can also be susceptible to aphids, scale insects, and fire blight in certain climates.
14. Benefits & Uses
Widely used as a living privacy screen, windbreak, or ornamental hedge. Its dense growth and striking color changes make it a favorite for boundary plantings and landscape accents. It is also effective for erosion control on slopes.
15. Toxicity & Safety
Red Tip Photinia contains cyanogenic glycosides, which are toxic to horses, cattle, and domestic pets like dogs and cats if leaves are ingested in large quantities. It is considered safe for human handling but is not edible.