Red Robin Photinia
Photinia x fraseri · Broadleaf Evergreen
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Ornamental / Flowering Shrub or Small Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Red Robin
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-9
About This Tree
A popular large evergreen shrub or small specimen tree known for its upright, dense habit and dramatic brilliant red new foliage. It produces large, flat-topped clusters of creamy-white flowers in spring and small red pomes (berries) that turn black in winter.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, leathery, and glossy. New leaves emerge a fiery bright red and transition to a dark, lustrous green as they mature. Oblong to elliptical shape with finely serrated margins.
Bark Characteristics
Greyish-brown and relatively smooth, becoming slightly fissured or scaly as the specimen ages into a small tree.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Garden origin (hybrid of P. glabra and P. serratifolia native to China and Japan)
Growing Season
Evergreen year-round; new red growth in spring; flowers in mid to late spring; berries in autumn.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade (full sun yields best red color). Needs moderate, regular watering; prefers moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil.
Mature Size
Typically 10-15 feet in height and spread, but can reach 20 feet if trained as a tree. Fast growth rate.
Special Characteristics
Exhibits intense red spring foliage; often used as a privacy screen or hedge. Known for susceptibility to Entomosporium leaf spot (fungus) in humid climates.
Wildlife & Ecology
Flowers attract bees and other pollinators; berries are eaten by various bird species, though the foliage can be toxic to some herbivores in large quantities.