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 Flowering Photinia robusta
Photinias come from East and South east Asia,the Himalayas and western USA. They are a hardy race of evergreen large bushes or small trees.They are mainly grown for their shining colourful red new spring shoots and leaves. Photinias are particulary useful for hedging as new shoots readily sprout from bare wood and all new shoots are colourful.
They are easy to grow. Position in full sun for maximum colour. Plant in average soil that doesn’t dry out too readily. Avoid salt laden winds but all other winds they will tolerate. .They are quick growers and make excellent wind and noise barriers as they grow dense and wide. They are one of the few shrubs that can be cut back almost to the ground, even from a tree sized specimen and they will renew themselves .Photinias are frost tolerant as long as they aren’t in new growth. For this reason prune in early autumn or spring after frosts have passed.
Photinia Red Robin
New shoots are deep crimson red for a long period in spring. If clipped regulary new shoots can be a stunning colourful feature throughout the year. This Photinia was bred in Masterton around 30 years ago. Such was the demand for this plant as a hedging plant that customers had to place their orders well in advance to ensure supply. It is such an enduring reliable hedge that I still see the same hedges gracing older properties. This Photinia can be maintained as low as a metre tall and up to 2.5ms with a 1.5 metre spread. The leathery leaves mature a dark green and have toothed edges.
Photinia robusta
This is a vigorous hybrid raised in Sydney. It grows into a large rounded tree and is more robust and hardy than P. Red Robin. Brilliant coppery red new shoots soon change to green. Clusters of fragrant creamy white blossom tinged pink smother the bushes in early summer. The mature leathery leaves are dark green. Grows 4ms tall and very wide and rounded if untrimmed.
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