What to Expect When a Red Robin Photinia Tree Matures

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Red Robin photinia is a popular evergreen shrub prized for its bright ruby-red new foliage that emerges in spring. It grows quickly when young but may eventually reach over 15 feet tall and wide when fully mature. Here’s what to expect as your Red Robin photinia grows into a full-size specimen over time.

Red Robin Photinia Facts

  • Botanical Name: Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’

  • Also Called Christmas berry

  • Deciduous or Evergreen: Evergreen

  • Mature Size: 12-15 feet tall x 12-15 feet wide

  • Growth Rate: Moderate, about 1 foot per year

  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Appearance of a Mature Red Robin Photinia

Form and Size

  • Habit: Rounded, spreading form with horizontal branching

  • Trunk: Gray bark that develops shallow fissures with age

  • Height: Typically grows 12-15 feet tall at maturity in 10-15 years. Can reach 20 feet.

  • Spread: Grows as wide as tall, so mature spread is around 12-15 feet.

  • Density: Branches and leaves create a thick, dense crown.

Leaves

  • Color: Emerging leaves are ruby-red, turning glossy green.

  • Size: 2-4 inches long; leathery texture

  • Shape: Oblong with toothed edges

Flowers and Fruit

  • Flowers: Small white flowers in spring

  • Fruit: Clusters of tiny red berries in late summer/fall

Growing Conditions for Red Robin Photinia

  • Hardiness Zones: 7-9

  • Soil: Moist, well-draining soil, acidic to neutral pH

  • Light: Full sun for best color, but also tolerates partial shade

  • Water: Moderate water needs, drought tolerant when established

Tips for Pruning a Mature Red Robin Photinia

  • Prune annually in late winter/early spring to maintain shape and vigor.

  • Remove up to 6 inches from branch tips to encourage new red growth.

  • Thin out overcrowded interior branches to improve air circulation.

  • Cut back older stems close to the base to renew leggy plants.

  • Avoid shearing, which damages the red foliage. Make clean cuts.

Issues to Watch for in Mature Red Robin Photinia Trees

  • Sparse interior growth and leaf loss due to poor air circulation. Thin branches to improve.

  • Powdery mildew fungal disease causes leaf spotting. Improve air flow.

  • Cold damage to new red shoots if grown in exposed sites. Choose a sheltered location.

  • Outgrowing its space in the landscape. Allow enough room or prune regularly.

With proper placement and pruning, a mature Red Robin photinia can be a beautiful evergreen specimen tree that provides year-round interest in the landscape.

All you need to know Before you get started

Photinias are shrubs or small trees from China. There are several species, some are evergreen and others

Deciduous refers to plants (mainly trees and shrubs) that lose their leaves seasonally, usually during autumn. This is a natural process that happens when the days get shorter and the temperature drops. It helps plants save energy during the winter.

Choosing the right photinia for you

You can pick from a number of species that have beautiful seasonal foliage displays, clusters of small white flowers, and red berries. Whether your garden is formal or casual, big or small, they look good there. You can grow them as specimen trees, shrubs, hedges, or wall shrubs. Some species need neutral or acid conditions, so will not grow well in chalky/alkaline soil. They can also be grown in large containers if your soil is unsuitable. See our guide to understanding soil pH. Some photinias can get very big, up to 5m (15ft) after 10 years or more, so make sure you know what size it will be before you buy it. Give larger species plenty of space or be prepared to prune annually. The most common type, Photinia fraseri Red Robin, is a beautiful ornamental shrub, especially in the spring and summer when its red young leaves stand out. It can be grown as a shrub or a hedge, and its evergreen leaves make a dense screen all year.

Evergreen shrubs make useful, sheltered nesting sites for birds in early spring.

Photinia Standard – Red Robin – YouGarden

FAQ

How big does Red Robin get?

Photinia Red Robin Maintenance Photinia is easy to care for and maintain and can reach a mature height of 7m and a spread of 3m. Growing at a rate of up to 30cm a year, pruning is only required twice a year to keep your hedge/tree under control and in shape. Trim new shoots to encourage bright red re-growth.

Does Red Robin have invasive roots?

Generally speaking, Photinia do not have invasive roots when compared to other species. However, if you plant it on top of drainage lines, the roots are probably going to grow into those lines. If, on the other hand, you’re worried about it lifting concrete, we have not observed this occurring.

Where is the best place to plant Photinia Red Robin?

Photinia Red Robin will grow well in any soil with decent drainage, including heavy clay, as long as the site doesn’t get waterlogged. They are quite shade tolerant, but they always look best in full sun. Photinia is not suitable for cold, exposed sites or frost pockets.

Are red tip photinia fast growing?

Flowers/Fruit: Small white clusters of flowers with an unpleasant smell appear in mid-spring and are followed by red, berrylike fruits. Size & Growth Rate: A red tip grows 10 to 15 feet tall and 5 to 8 feet wide, although it can get larger with age. It is a moderate to fast growing plant.

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