Fraser Photinia is a striking evergreen shrub celebrated for its brilliant bronze-red to bright red new growth that emerges each spring at the twig tips, earning it the common names 'red tip' or 'red top.' This hybrid (a cross between Photinia glabra and Photinia serrulata) was discovered at Fraser Nursery in Birmingham, Alabama around 1940 and introduced to commerce in 1955, quickly becoming a landscape favorite. Growing 10 to 15 feet tall and wide, it thrives in zones 7 to 9 and produces fragrant, showy flowers in spring followed by ornamental fruit. Once established, it handles drought well and grows easily in full sun to partial shade with moderate watering and maintenance.
Partial Sun
Moderate
7-9
180in H x 180in W
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High
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The real draw here is that stunning red foliage that announces spring's arrival at every branch tip, a color show that persists for weeks before maturing to green. In April and May, small fragrant flowers appear in showy clusters, followed by decorative fruit that extends visual interest through the seasons. Plant it in areas with good air circulation where it can reach its full 10 to 15-foot stature, and it becomes a commanding hedge or specimen shrub that transforms even ordinary landscapes into something special.
Fraser Photinia is primarily grown as a landscape shrub, particularly valued for hedging and as a specimen plant where its bold spring foliage can be admired. Its size and dense growth habit make it effective as a screening plant or foundation shrub in gardens across zones 7 to 9.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Propagate Fraser Photinia from cuttings rather than seed. Space plants according to mature size (10 to 15 feet tall and wide), keeping in mind their use as hedges or specimens.
Prune Fraser Photinia in winter to thin the shrub and improve air circulation throughout the canopy. Follow with spring pruning to shape the plant and maintain its size as needed. Winter pruning is particularly important for disease prevention, as it removes congested growth and allows better airflow, reducing conditions that favor leaf spot disease.
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“Fraser Photinia has a precise origin story: it was discovered as a hybrid at Fraser Nursery in Birmingham, Alabama around 1940, then officially introduced into commerce in 1955. The nursery's name was immortalized in the plant's scientific name, Photinia × fraseri, a lasting tribute to where this cross between Photinia glabra and Photinia serrulata first appeared. What might have been a chance hybrid became one of the most widely planted ornamental shrubs across warm regions of North America, particularly in the deep South where its dramatic red-tipped growth became a hallmark of residential and commercial landscapes for decades.”