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Key characteristics

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

Shrubs

Photinia x fraseri

Red Tip Photinia

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.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Average well drained soil

Bloom time

Mid spring, often April to May

Find this plant

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.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)