Photinia varieties & species: the most beautiful at a glance

The various species of photinia are among the lesser-known ornamental shrubs, although these attractive plants have a lot to offer.

Photinia is the name given to a range of woody plants of the genus Photinia but there are numerous varieties with different characteristics. We present a few of the most popular variants in this country.

How many varieties and species of photinia are there?

In total, there are over 60 different species of photinia within the genus Photinia. All species originate from the warm part of Asia and are widespread there in the eastern region from Indonesia to China and Japan, as well as in India and in the south of Thailand. However, some botanists also include the closely related North American species Heteromeles arbutifolia under the synonym Photinia arbutifolia in the genus photinia.

The most beautiful photinia species at a glance

Photinias differ in many characteristics, such as growth habit and size. There are also variants with evergreen foliage as well as those with deciduous foliage only. Below, we present a few selected species with their characteristics.

Evergreen varieties

Red tip photinia (Photinia x fraseri)

Photinia x fraseri is a cross between Photinia glabra and Photinia serrulata. It is also known as the red tip photinia and lives up to its name. The evergreen, alternate foliage shines red when budding, but later turns green. The white flowers in umbrella panicles shine from May to June and form small, apple-like and red fruits in autumn. This species is a shallow rooter, growing up to 3 m tall and wide. It has an upright, shrubby growth habit. In particularly poor soils, it is always advisable to fertilise photinia in order to provide the plant with optimum nutrients and thus ensure good growth. In terms of winter hardiness, red tip photinia can tolerate temperatures down to approximately -23 °C.

• Photinia x fraseri ˈRed Robinˈ: This variety displays a beautiful red colour when budding and is popular for hedging, among other things, due to its bushy growth. In our article, you can learn everything you need to know about pruning photinia.

• Photinia x fraseri ˈDevil’s Dreamˈ: Photinia ˈDevil’s Dreamˈ also scores points with its striking red foliage shoots. This makes it an eye-catcher for every garden.
• Photinia x fraseri ˈPink Marbleˈ: An enchanting display of colours is offered by this variety with its pink shoots and white-green coloured foliage. However, the variety is somewhat more susceptible to frost and should therefore only be planted in warmer locations or in sheltered sites.
• Photinia x fraseri ‘Carré Rouge’: This variety is also susceptible to frost and is best suited to warmer sites. Growth is medium with a height of up to 2 m, which is why it is also well suited for hedge planting. The leaf shoots are bright red, as the name suggests.

Chinese hawthorn (Photinia serrulata)

Taiwanese photinia is an evergreen species that sprouts red foliage in spring. The woody plant grows into a large shrub up to 7 m tall and 4 m wide. Its strongly toothed leaves are classified as poisonous due to the content of glycosides. The whitish flowers appear in spring from May to June and have a somewhat strong smell. Taiwanese photinia does not tolerate waterlogging, but is considered extremely hardy.

• Photinia serrulata ˈPink Crispyˈ: This cultivar of Taiwanese photinia grows only about 2 m tall and is particularly striking due to its pink shoots and green-white foliage.

Deciduous species:

Oriental photinia (Photinia villosa)

Oriental photinia grows into a large shrub that can reach a height and width of up to 5 m. Its green leaves are deciduous and display an attractive orange autumn colour. The white flowers strongly resemble those of a hawthorn (Crataegus), but have a somewhat unpleasant smell and appear from May to June. The species is a deep rooter, tolerates short dry periods in summer and is hardier than red tip photinia.

Christmas berry (Photinia beauverdiana)

This deciduous species grows up to 3 m tall and originates from the areas around China, northern Vietnam and Bhutan. Its common name is due to the fact that the bright red fruits of this photinia provide an attractive decoration in winter, especially at Christmas time. But this species is also known for its pretty orange autumn colours and is a popular cultivar. The leaf shoots are brown to purple and later turn a dark green. The white flowers appear in large numbers in early summer, from about May to June. The Christmas berry needs a sunny spot and well-draining soil.

Now that you know all about the different species and varieties of photinia, it is time to get the plant you want and plant it.