Photinia (Pot Grown)

Red Robin is the boundary as a feature. Where every other hedge settles into one shade of green, Photinia reignites through the season — fire-bright red in spring and again after every clip — above dense evergreen foliage that screens as well as it shows off.

Here’s the trick most people don’t know when they buy it: the red is new growth, so the colour is in your hands. Two or three light trims between spring and late summer keeps the hedge flushing scarlet all season; a hedge left uncut flares once in spring and stays green. Buy it planning to trim it — that’s not a chore with this plant, it’s the ignition switch.

WHICH SIZE SHOULD I CHOOSE?

Plant 3 per metre for a dense hedge that knits within two to three seasons, or 2 per metre with larger plants. Growth is around 30cm a year — a touch slower than laurel, with the colour as the trade. Larger sizes give you the red display at eye level from year one.

All heights are measured from the top of the pot to the top of the plant.

GROWING CONDITIONS

Full sun or light shade — sun gives the strongest red — in any reasonably drained soil. Feed in spring to power both growth and colour. Dark leaf spots on stressed plants are photinia leaf spot: rake up fallen leaves, trim for airflow, and a vigorous plant grows through it. In very cold, exposed inland gardens, cherry laurel is the safer bet — ask us if you’re unsure.

PLANTING & AFTERCARE

Generous hole, broken base, bone meal, rootball level, firm and soak. Deep weekly watering through the first summer, spring feed every year, and those two or three light trims that keep the show running — each one takes minutes with hand shears or a hedge trimmer.

GROWN AT NEWGATE

Grown on and hardened outdoors at our nursery in Whitestake, Lancashire — Red Robin forced soft for a quick sale drops leaves at the first hard spring; ours arrives ready for real weather. UK-wide delivery quoted at checkout, or click and collect seven days a week.