Photinia

Cultivation notes

Photinia grows in fertile, moist, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade, but the young shoots can become scorched if grown in an exposed position.

Photinia grows in most soils, even clay as long as it has been improved by incorporating well-rotted compost or manure. Most species will tolerate either acid or alkaline conditions, but P. beauverdiana and P. villosa are not happy in a chalky soil, needing neutral to acid soil conditions.

Pruning and training

Photinias require minimal pruning, but will benefit from the occasional trim in spring and summer to keep the shape of the plant under control. Avoid trimming after mid-August, since any new growth would be vulnerable to autumn frosts.

Follow the advice in the pruning evergreen shrubs profile, but also note the following:

• Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’ can grow up to 30cm (1ft) a year, so keep it under control by shortening stems up to 15cm (6in), cutting just above an outward-facing bud
• If ‘Red Robin’ is grown as a hedge, remove the tips of young shoots to encourage bright red re-growth. They can be trimmed up to three times a year
• The deciduous P. villosa should be pruned in winter when dormant
• P. davidiana ‘Palette’ is a slow-growing evergreen with variegated leaves that needs little pruning
• If any of these photinias become overgrown, it is possible to renovate by cutting back hard to a low framework and thinning out congested shoots as they grow back

Propagation

The best method for propagating photinia cultivars, such as those of P. × fraseri including ‘Birmingham’, ‘Redstart’ and ‘Red Robin’, is by softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in summer and autumn.

You can also grow species, such as P. villosa and P. davidiana, from seed, sowing in spring after stratification.

Cultivar Selection

Below are a few popular photinias. For lists of other large or very large evegreen shrubs browse the RHS Plant Selector.

• Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’ AGM – bright red young growth
• P. davidiana ‘Palette’ – variegated leaves, slower growing 
• P. villosa AGM – bronzy young growth and red autumn colour

Links

RHS Plant Finder

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Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin'

Photinia davidiana

Problems

Photinias are usually trouble-free, but can suffer from photinia leaf spot. This is considered to be a physiological problem (i.e. not caused by any pest or disease). The purple-brown spotting on the foliage is typical of a plant under stress. Recently planted semi-mature specimens are particularly prone, though many photinias are not fully hardy in the UK and any can suffer after cold, wet winters.

To avoid this type of damage plant in a sheltered spot preferably against a wall or fence. Cold winds and/or frosty conditions can also damage foliage, again causing leaf spotting if adverse conditions are prolonged.

Feeding with a general-purpose fertiliser such as Vitax Q4 or Growmore in spring or early summer should encourage healthy re-growth. Photinias respond well to pruning so thinning out some of the top growth on badly affected plants will also encourage younger, more vigorous growth later in the season. If the ground is heavy incorporate organic matter to aid with drainage.

Purple blotching can also sometimes be a symptom of powdery mildew on photinia. 

Fireblight is more serious, but is unlikely to affect P. × fraseri cultivars such as 'Red Robin'. Occasionally, P. villosa and P. davidiana are affected.