Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Photinia x fraseri
Red Tip Photinia
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Height
- 10 to 15 feet
- Width
- 8 to 12 feet
- Flower color
- Small creamy white flowers borne in large flat-topped clusters
- Foliage color
- Glossy dark green leaves with bright red new growth maturing to deep green
- Bloom time
- Mid spring, often April to May
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Average well drained soil
- Maintenance
- Moderate; prune after flowering to control size and promote fresh red growth while improving air circulation to reduce leaf spot
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7 to 9
- Wildlife
- Bees, butterflies and birds that feed on the small red berries
About this plant
Photinia x fraseri produces clusters of small white flowers in mid to late spring, the blossoms forming rounded heads along the branch tips. The blooms appear above glossy evergreen foliage that emerges bright red before maturing to deep green. New growth often continues to flush with red tones during the growing season, creating layers of color across the plant. Oval leaves with finely serrated edges form a dense canopy along the stems.
This hybrid originated from a cross between Photinia glabra and Photinia serratifolia, both native to eastern Asia. In gardens it provides evergreen structure for hedges, borders, and screening where the colorful new growth and spring flowers add seasonal interest.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Hedging & Privacy · Bird Gardens · Foundation Plantings
Companion plants
Tickseed · Russian sage · Potentilla · Fountain grass · Basket-of-gold · Lily of the Nile
Design tip
Use red tip photinia as a bold evergreen backdrop, allowing the bright red flushes of new foliage to provide recurring bursts of color against the mature deep green leaves. Its dense canopy gives the planting a strong visual framework throughout the year.
