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Photinia glabra

Phonetic Spelling
foh-TIN-nee-uh GLAH-bruh
Description

Japanese Photinia is a large evergreen shrub or small tree that grows up to 20' tall. This plant blooms in late spring (making it the last of the photinias to flower). It's foetid blooms are offensive to many people. New foliage is a colorful reddish bronze, and reddish buds are visible most of the year. This plant is alkaline tolerant and drought tolerant. This plant is intolerant of wet conditions. It is the least cold-tolerant of the photinias. This plant can be grown as a small tree. It has pest and disease problems, such as leaf spot. 

Form: Upright; loose, rounded

Quick ID Hints:

  • Leaves are alternate, coriaceous, and elliptic-obovate
  • Leaves are reddish when young
  • Leaves have 8-14 pairs of lateral veins

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Rubens
Rubens
Tags:
#evergreen#small tree#white flowers#children's garden#playground plant#alkaline soils tolerant#fantz#cozy#malodorous
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Rubens
Rubens
Tags:
#evergreen#small tree#white flowers#children's garden#playground plant#alkaline soils tolerant#fantz#cozy#malodorous
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Photinia
    Species:
    glabra
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Dimensions:
    Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Vase
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Pome
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are a berry-like pome that is red and isless than an inch in size.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    White flowers that are sometimes flushed pink have an offensive odor and are less than an inch in size. Inflorescence is a terminal cyme that is 2-4" in diameter.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Obovate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are alternate, simple, elliptic to obovate, 2-3" long and 1/3 to 1/2 as wide, acute, cuneate, serrulate, coriaceous, and with 8-14 pairs of parallel leaf veins. Leaves are lustrous dark green in color and new growth is bronzy red.
  • Bark:
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are stout and greenish-brown.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Recreational Play Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden