UK Stock / Quick Postage

Recyclable Packaging

Bee & Insect Friendly

Yarrow Gardens

Photinia

Photinia is a stunning evergreen shrub that brings year-round interest and vibrant colour to UK gardens. This versatile plant is best known for its eye-catching new growth, which emerges in a brilliant shade of red before maturing to a glossy deep green. This striking colour change creates a beautiful contrast within the plant itself, making Photinia a true standout in any garden setting.

One of the most popular varieties is Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’, prized for its particularly vivid red new leaves. This variety is a favourite among UK gardeners for its reliability and visual impact. Photinia is a robust and adaptable plant, thriving in most well-drained soils and tolerating both full sun and partial shade. This flexibility makes it suitable for various garden locations and styles.

Photinia is an excellent choice for creating privacy screens or hedges. Its dense, leafy growth provides effective screening while adding a decorative element to boundaries. For smaller gardens or those looking for more compact options, Photinia can be easily maintained as a shrub through regular pruning. This also encourages more of the bright red new growth, enhancing its ornamental value.

In late spring to early summer, Photinia produces clusters of small white flowers, adding another layer of interest to this already attractive plant. These flowers are followed by small red berries, which can provide food for birds in autumn and winter.

Photinia is relatively low-maintenance once established, making it a great choice for busy gardeners. It’s generally pest and disease resistant, though it may occasionally suffer from leaf spot in very damp conditions. Regular pruning not only keeps the plant in shape but also promotes the production of new red shoots, ensuring a constant supply of colour.

This versatile shrub can be used in various ways in the garden. As a specimen plant, it creates a striking focal point. In mixed borders, it provides structure and a backdrop for other plants. Its bright new growth pairs particularly well with plants that have silver or purple foliage, creating stunning colour combinations.

Whether you’re looking to add year-round structure, create a living privacy screen, or simply enjoy the dramatic colour changes of this beautiful shrub, Photinia is an excellent choice for UK gardens. Its adaptability, visual appeal, and relatively easy care requirements make it a favourite among gardeners of all experience levels.