Photinia serratifolia
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Crataegus serratifolia
- Photinia serrulata
- Phonetic Spelling
- foh-TIN-nee-uh ser-at-ih-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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Chinese photinia is a large, broadleaf, evergreen shrub or small tree in the rose family. It grows between 20'-30' tall. It has showy fragrant flowers that bloom in mid-spring. As leaves age, they go from spinose to serrate to crenate. Plant has nice, large, red buds. It is the largest and heaviest-blooming of all photinias, although the flowers are somewhat malodorous.
Plant in the full sun to partial shade with medium moisture well-drained soil. Well established plants tolerate drought but it does not like wet soil or the leaves getting wet. It is also intolerant of alkaline soils. Due to its size, it should not be used in small designs. They can be grown as a small tree and are easy to transplant.
Quick ID Hints:
- Large, coriaceous serrate leaves has 25-40 veins
- This plant produces large red buds that are red-colored and emerge from foliage
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has pest problems but is the most disease-resistant of the genus, being particularly resistant to Entemosporium leaf spot. Phytophthora root rot, powdery mildew and fire blight can occur. Insects are aphids and scales.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Photinia
- Species:
- serratifolia
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are food source for birds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to Entemosporium leaf spot
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 9 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Multi-stemmed
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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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:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Plant produces a red, globose, berry-like pome that is less than an inch in diameter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are white, foetid, and less than an inch in size. Infloresence is a cyme, terminal, and 4"-6" long.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate to oblong, spinose to serrate to crenate, coriaceous, have 25-49 prominent lateral veins, and are 4"-8" long and 1 1/2"-3 1/2" wide. New leaves are apple green to bronze-tinged or reddish purple, later maturing to dark green.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Surface/Attachment:
- Patchy
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are stout, greenish-brown, and lenticeled.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Malodorous
