Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Moist, well-drained soil enriched with plenty of compost or other organic matter, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
Cold tolerance in limited to mild winter climates where temperatures stay above 5°F (-15°C).
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Feeding
Topdress the root zone with a balanced organic fertilizer in spring, and keep plants mulched year-round to protect their shallow roots.
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Companions
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Spacing
Single Plants: 4' 11" (1.50m) each way (minimum)
Rows: 4' 11" (1.50m) with 4' 11" (1.50m) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Set out purchased plants from spring through early summer. Water regularly, and cover the root zone with an organic mulch to keep the soil moist at all times. Can also be grown in containers with one plant per 14-inch (35 cm) pot.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Widely sold at landscape nurseries in locations where they are hardy, photinias are among the most colorful evergreens for mild winter climates. New growth is bright red, which shows beautifully against older green leaves. Frequent pruning pushes out more color, but may sacrifice the flush of flowers that appears in late spring. Many people find the fragrance of photinia flowers unpleasant, so they happily prune the plants to encourage more new leaves at the expense of flowers. Photinia can be pruned into a dense hedge, or a single specimens can be allowed to grow into a small tree. A photinia in a large container can be trained to grow as a standard on a single trunk.
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Harvesting
Red photinia leaves make excellent filler material in winter flower arrangements.
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Troubleshooting
Leafspot disease is not uncommon in warm, humid climates, so prune plants as needed to improve air circulation. Fireblight may occasionally cause stems to blacken in spring. Late-season powdery mildew can lead to partial loss of leaves.
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