Photinia x fraseri
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- foh-TIN-nee-uh FRAH-zare-ee
- Description
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Fraser's Photinia is a large, broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree in the rose family that matures up to 20 feet tall with a 15 foot spread. It is a hybrid of P. glabra and P. serratifolia, developed in Birmingham by Fraser Nursery, and popular in the American south. This plant blooms in mid-spring, after P. serratifolia and before P. glabra. This plant is also intermediate in size between the two. Fraser Photinia's fragrant white blooms are offensive to many people. New foliage is a colorful reddish-bronze, and reddish buds are visible most of the year.
Fraser's Photinia does best in moist, well drained soil sited in full sun to partial shade with good air circulation. This plant is alkaline tolerant, and drought and salt spray tolerant. It is intolerant of wet conditions and you should avoid getting water on the leaves. In cooler climates, provide protection from winter winds. It has pest and disease problems. It can grow in full shade, but that will impact the flowering and increase the plant's susceptibility to leaf spot disease.
Pruning in late spring may encourage new flushes of red leaves, but will also eliminate the flowers.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are alternate, leathery, and obovate
- Leaves are reddish when young
- Leaves have 10-18 pairs of lateral veins
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Susceptible to leaf spot disease, particularly in areas with high humidity and moist conditions are prevalent. Fireblight and powdery mildew can also occur.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Pink Marble'
Variegated foliage of dark green, white, and pink. - 'Red Tip'
Fast growing, red spring new growth fades to glossy dark green.
- 'Pink Marble'
- 'Pink Marble', 'Red Tip'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Pink Marble'
Variegated foliage of dark green, white, and pink. - 'Red Tip'
Fast growing, red spring new growth fades to glossy dark green.
- 'Pink Marble'
- 'Pink Marble', 'Red Tip'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Photinia
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South China
- Play Value:
- Screening
- Shade
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- 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 Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are globose berry-like pomes that are red and less than an inch in size.
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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 and less than an inch in size. Inflorescence is a terminal cyme that is 5 to 6 inches across. Flowers are 5-petaled and bloom in late April. Flowers have a very unpleasant aroma, somewhat reminiscent of hawthorns.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Lustrous, dark green leaves; 2 3/4 inches long. New growth in spring is bronze- to copper-red gradually changing to glossy dark green.
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Bark:
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are stout and greenish brown in color.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
