Fraser Photinia

Photinia x fraseri

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

▲▼ mature plants

▲ flowers and fruit

▲▼ red foliage of new growth

▲▼ red foliage of new growth

▲ leaves and twigs

Location on campus: in garden area on north side of Karls Hall

Photinia x fraseri: Fraser Photinia, Red-tip Photinia

·         leaves alternate, semi-evergreen to evergreen or deciduous, simple, ovate with serrate margins; 2-4" long and 1/2 as wide, leaves emerge bright red, turning bright green as they mature; glabrous except petiole; leaf undersides paler green

·         stems slender, brown to greenish brown with prominent lenticels; may have cherry-like odor if bruised

·         flowers small, white, in terminal clusters in mid-spring; often pruned off by shaping; some say have bad odor

·         grows 10-15' tall and 2 as wide in upright shrub shape

·         prefers full sun to part-shade, moist-well-drained soil (not wet); needs adequate nitrogen to avoid deficiency symptoms

·         may get serious leaf disease that causes leaf drop

·         marginally hardy here— may have winter die back or death in very cold winters (-10°F)

·         medium to fast growth rate