Photinia Fraseri Robusta

Red Leaved Photinia / Red Tip Photinia

Botanical Name: Photinia × fraseri ‘Robusta’
Family: Rosaceae
Origin: East Asia (hybrid of Japanese and Chinese species)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

A proven hedge and screening star for Adelaide and South Australia, ‘Robusta’ delivers a bold flush of bright red new growth that matures to glossy deep green. In spring it bears white flower clusters, followed by red berries that can attract birds. Tough, tidy and fast enough to establish quickly, it’s ideal for driveways, boundaries and low-maintenance landscapes.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 3-4 m H x 2-3 m W
• Growth Rate: 40-70 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Glossy deep-green leaves with striking bronze-to-scarlet new flushes through the warmer months
• Flowers: White panicles in spring; may set red berries into autumn/winter
• Seasonal Interest: Red new growth most of the year → spring blossom → evergreen gloss and winter berries for year-round appeal
• Wildlife Value: Attracts Bees in bloom; Attracts Birds to berries; Good for Pollinators
• Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant (once established), Heat-Tolerant, Wind-Tolerant, Coastal-Tolerant (sheltered), Frost hardy (light–moderate); Clay-Tolerant if well-drained
• Planting Density: Hedge: 1 plant per 1 m (or 0.7 m for very tight screens). Specimen: 1.5–2 m apart
• Pet Friendly: Generally regarded as non-toxic to pets

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best colour in sun)
• Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or improved clay
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Clip after flowering or late winter to shape and stimulate red new growth; mulch in spring; balanced feed in early spring (add iron chelates if leaves yellow on alkaline soils)
• Lifespan: 15-25 years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA, including coastal Adelaide
• Soil pH: Acid, Neutral, Alkaline (best slightly acidic–neutral with good drainage)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Privacy hedge with vibrant red flushes to lift front boundaries and side fences
• Formal screens framing driveways and entries; clips cleanly for sharp lines
• Backbone shrub in mixed borders with westringia, nandina and lomandra for a low-water Adelaide palette

Why You Will Love It

‘Robusta’ gives instant kerb appeal: vivid red new growth, spring flowers and glossy evergreen foliage—with minimal fuss in South Australian conditions. It establishes quickly, prunes beautifully, and keeps boundaries looking polished year-round.