Images Depict Mature Plants
Red Tip Photinia
Photinia x fraseri
Red Tip Photinia offers vibrant red new growth in spring, creating year-round interest as the leaves mature to a glossy green, making it ideal for privacy screens and hedges. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant shrub is drought-tolerant and thrives in various soil types, adding beauty and functionality to any landscape.
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Red Tip Photinia Shrubs for Sale Online
Red Tip Photinia (Photinia x fraseri) is a vibrant, evergreen shrub known for its striking red foliage that emerges in spring, gradually maturing to a glossy green as the season progresses. This fast-growing shrub reaches a height of 10 to 15 feet, making it ideal for privacy screens, hedges, or as a bold accent in the landscape. Its stunning red tips provide year-round visual interest, mainly used in mixed borders or as a focal point in garden designs. The shrub also produces small white flowers in late spring, adding another layer of seasonal beauty.
Thriving in full sun to partial shade, Red Tip Photinia is adaptable to various soil types as long as they are well-drained. This shrub is drought-tolerant once established and requires minimal maintenance, making it a popular choice for homeowners seeking a low-care yet impactful plant. Hardy in USDA zones 6-9, Red Tip Photinia, grows quickly, creating a dense, living screen that offers both privacy and wind protection. Its ability to withstand pruning makes it easy to maintain at your desired height and shape, ensuring it fits well into any landscape style.
In addition to its aesthetic appeal, Red Tip Photinia is also resistant to deer, making it a practical choice for areas where wildlife browsing may be an issue. Regular pruning promotes new growth, keeping the vibrant red foliage fresh throughout the year. Whether used as a hedge, a privacy screen, or a standalone specimen, Red Tip Photinia delivers both beauty and functionality, providing your garden with year-round color and texture.
| Hardiness Zone: | 6-9 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 9 to 12 feet (18 feet if left unpruned) |
| Mature Width: | 9 to 12 feet |
| Classification: | Broad-leaved evergreen shrub |
| Sunlight: | Full sun to part shade |
| Habit: | Densely branched, spreading |
| Foliage: | Rich red in spring, turning greenish-red in summer |
| Flower Color: | White in spring |
| Pruning Season: | Spring, after flowering |
| Soil Condition: | Any well-drained soil |
| Water Requirements: | Water well until established |
| Uses: | Extremely attractive when used as in the mixed border, foundations, or planted in mass.; fast growing privacy plant |
How to Care for Red Tip Photinia
Before you buy a Red Tip Photinia Shrubs, make sure to read about the recommended care instructions to keep this plant healthy and thriving for years to come!
How do I plant a Red Tip Photinia?
Planting a Red Tip Photinia (Photinia x fraseri) correctly is crucial for ensuring healthy growth and vibrant foliage. Start by choosing a sunny location, as Red Tip Photinia thrives in full sun but can also tolerate partial shade. Well-drained soil is essential to prevent root rot, so if your soil has heavy clay, consider amending it with compost or organic matter to improve drainage. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and equally as deep, ensuring that the root collar (where the roots meet the trunk) is level with the surrounding soil. Place the shrub in the hole and backfill with a mix of native soil and organic compost, gently firming the soil to eliminate air pockets. After planting, water thoroughly to help the roots settle. Once the Red Tip Photinia is planted, applying a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base will help retain moisture, moderate soil temperature, and prevent weed growth. Be sure to keep the mulch away from direct contact with the trunk to avoid rot. During the first growing season, water the shrub deeply once or twice a week to establish a strong root system, particularly during dry spells. Red Tip Photinia can grow up to 10-15 feet tall and wide, making it ideal for use as a hedge, privacy screen, or as an ornamental specimen. With proper planting and care, your Red Tip Photinia will develop vibrant red new growth that matures to a glossy green, adding year-round interest and beauty to your landscape.
How do I water a Red Tip Photinia Shrubs?
Watering Red Tip Photinia shrubs properly is essential to promote healthy growth, vibrant foliage, and resistance to disease. During the first growing season, it is important to water Red Tip Photinia deeply and consistently to help establish a strong root system. Water the shrub once or twice a week, providing about 1 to 1.5 inches of water each time, ensuring that the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Deep watering encourages the roots to grow down into the soil, making the shrub more drought-tolerant over time. Always water at the base of the plant and avoid wetting the foliage, as Red Tip Photinia can be susceptible to fungal issues like leaf spot, which thrive in wet conditions. Once established, Red Tip Photinia shrubs are moderately drought-tolerant and require less frequent watering. However, it is important to provide supplemental watering during prolonged periods of hot, dry weather to maintain the plant’s health and vibrant foliage. In general, watering deeply once every two to three weeks should be sufficient for established shrubs. To help retain moisture and reduce the need for frequent watering, apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base of the plant, being careful to keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot. Proper watering practices will ensure that your Red Tip Photinia remains lush, colorful, and an attractive addition to your landscape.
How do I fertilize my Red Tip Photinia Shrub?
Fertilizing your Red Tip Photinia shrub is crucial to support its vigorous growth and maintain its vibrant red new foliage. The best time to fertilize Red Tip Photinia is in early spring, just as new growth is beginning. Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer, such as one with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 or 16-4-8, to provide essential nutrients for overall health, vibrant leaves, and disease resistance. Spread the fertilizer evenly around the drip line of the shrub, avoiding direct contact with the trunk to prevent root burn. After applying fertilizer, water the area thoroughly to help the nutrients penetrate the soil and reach the roots, supporting strong, healthy growth. A soil test is recommended before fertilizing to determine if any amendments are necessary for optimal growth conditions. Red Tip Photinia prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. If your soil lacks the required nutrients or the pH is off, adding the appropriate amendments can create the ideal environment for the shrub. Additionally, applying an organic compost layer around the base of the plant can improve soil structure and provide a slow, consistent nutrient supply throughout the growing season. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to excessive soft growth that may be more prone to diseases such as leaf spot. With proper fertilization, your Red Tip Photinia will produce lush green leaves, striking red new growth, and remain a vibrant feature in your landscape.
How Should I Prune My Red Tip Photinia?
Pruning your Red Tip Photinia is essential for maintaining its shape, encouraging new growth, and promoting air circulation to prevent disease. The best time to prune Red Tip Photinia is in late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins. Start by removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches, which helps to improve air circulation and reduce the risk of fungal diseases like leaf spot. Use sharp, clean pruning shears to make precise cuts, and aim to open up the center of the shrub by removing overly crowded branches. This will allow sunlight to reach the inner parts of the plant and promote even, healthy growth throughout the shrub. To maintain the desired size and shape of your Red Tip Photinia, prune back any overgrown branches, keeping in mind its natural growth habit. For a hedge, you may want to trim the sides and top to create a uniform appearance, but be careful not to remove more than one-third of the growth at any time to avoid stressing the plant. Pruning after each flush of new growth encourages the characteristic red leaves to reappear, enhancing the shrub's colorful appeal. Light, regular pruning throughout the growing season will help maintain a dense, healthy structure and keep your Red Tip Photinia looking lush and vibrant. With proper pruning, your shrub will continue to thrive, providing brilliant red new growth and serving as an attractive addition to your garden.
