All About the Red Tip Photinia Shrub
The Red Tip Photinia shrub, also known by its botanical name of Photinia fraseri, is a popular choice for shrubbery along the eastern half of the United States. The Red Tip Photinia shrub can reach 15 feet high by 15 feet wide at maturity, and its dense, attractive evergreen foliage makes it an excellent choice for a privacy screen, border or protective hedge, or accent shrub. The Red Tip Photinia features variegated foliage in deep, rich shades of red, green, and burgundy, and mature plants produce creamy white flowers in late spring and throughout the summer bloom season. Later in the bloom season the Red Tip Photinia will begin to produce small reddish fruits which endure throughout the winter, giving it great visual interest all year long.
Red Tip Photinia Planting Requirements
The Red Tip Photinia thrives in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8 and 9, and require full to partial sunlight and enriched, moist soil with adequate drainage. Ideally, soil pH should range between 4.5 and 6.5, and should include some sand and loam elements. The Red Tip Photinia shrub can tolerate dry to average moisture conditions and will grow well from seeds, cuttings, or young established plants.
Caring for Red Tip Photinia Plants
Due to its dense foliage growth, the Red Tip Photinia plant will need regular pruning in order to ensure adequate air circulation to the interior portions of the shrub as it grows. If air circulation is not adequate to its needs, the Red Tip Photinia plant can develop Photinia disease, a fungal disease which causes circles in shades of red, maroon, or purple to appear on the leaf surfaces. As the disease spreads, leaves will begin to die and drop from the tree branches. Additionally, it is important to water Red Tip Photinia from the base of the plant only to avoid moisture causing fungal growth on the leaves.
