Photinia Growing Guide

Photinia x fraseri

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil enriched with plenty of compost or other organic matter, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Cold tolerance in limited to mild winter climates where temperatures stay above 5°F (-15°C).

Feeding

Topdress the root zone with a balanced organic fertilizer in spring, and keep plants mulched year-round to protect their shallow roots.

Spacing

Single Plants: 4' 11" (1.50m) each way (minimum)
Rows: 4' 11" (1.50m) with 4' 11" (1.50m) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Set out purchased plants from spring through early summer. Water regularly, and cover the root zone with an organic mulch to keep the soil moist at all times. Can also be grown in containers with one plant per 14-inch (35 cm) pot.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Widely sold at landscape nurseries in locations where they are hardy, photinias are among the most colorful evergreens for mild winter climates. New growth is bright red, which shows beautifully against older green leaves. Frequent pruning pushes out more color, but may sacrifice the flush of flowers that appears in late spring. Many people find the fragrance of photinia flowers unpleasant, so they happily prune the plants to encourage more new leaves at the expense of flowers. Photinia can be pruned into a dense hedge, or a single specimens can be allowed to grow into a small tree. A photinia in a large container can be trained to grow as a standard on a single trunk.

Harvesting

Red photinia leaves make excellent filler material in winter flower arrangements.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Photinia

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail