In fact, this shrub is even fairly drought-tolerant.
When growing red tip photinia, consider that it’s toxic to horses.
It can even tolerate full shade, though this will limit flowering.
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In hot climates, this shrub does best when it gets partial shadeespecially protection from the hot afternoon sun.
In cooler climate zones, it prefers full sun.
It is best planted in north- or east-facing locations.
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Soil
Red tip photinia prefersloamy, well-drained soilin a planting site with good air movement.
Heavy clay soils should be amended with 50 percent compost before planting.
The shrub is happiest in alkaline soil.
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Water the plant once a week at its base during dry periods, and avoid getting the leaves wet.
It does not do well in very wet, humid environments.
Fertilizer
Red tip photinia usually does not require fertilizing unless your soil is very poor.
This will ensure light can hit all parts of the plant.
To train this plant to grow as a tree, choose a central leader and prune away competing shoots.
This will gradually transform the plant into a more tree-like shape.
Thus, propagation is always through stem cuttings.
However, cuttings can be taken anytime before frost arrives.
Gardeners in zone 7 should thickly cover the root crown with a layer of dry mulch.
Dry mulch can include leaves, straw, or brushwood.
Wrap the individual shoots in burlap, mainly to protect the flowering buds.
These safeguards are not necessary for warmer zones.
double-check to remove all diseased leaves and branches from the growing area.
you could also apply a systemic fungicide several times in the early spring through the rainy season.
Thoroughly treat all leaf and twig surfaces.
Powdery mildewand fireblight are also potential problems.
And, root rot is possible, if the soil is too wet.
You also might seeleaf scorch, crown gall, and gray mold.
Insects that you might find on this shrub include caterpillars, European fruit-tip moths,mites, and scale.
Bloom Months
Red tip photinia is a spring bloomer, typically producing flowers in April or May.
How Long Does Red Tip Photinia Bloom?
What Do Red Tip Photinia Flowers Look and Smell Like?
The flowers nearly cover the foliage at the peak of its bloom.
The berries are a food source for birds.
How to Encourage More Blooms
Flowers are produced on new growth.
Ensure the plant gets ample sun and its new buds are protected in the winter.
Regular pruning in the winter and fertilizing twice a year will encourage consistent blooming.
Cutting back the stems also spurs more new red leaf production.
Red tip photinia requires both enough sun and a sheltered location to thrive.
Unpleasant Smell
The flowers on red tip photinia are notorious for their unpleasant odor.
Red tip photinia grows fast, approximately two to three feet per year.
you could encourage faster growth by providing a well-balanced fertilizer or compost.
Also, ensure that red tip photinia is getting enough sunlight.
It also works well in sheltered but sunny borders and makes a good informal hedge with regular pruning.
With occasional restoration pruning, this shrub will live almost indefinitely unless it falls prey to fungal disease.
A shrub that loses all its foliage is likely a victim of the leaf spot disease known asE.
Red tip photinia is not known to be toxic to dogs.However, the plant is toxic to horses.
Poisonous Range Plants of Temperate North America.
Texas Invasive Species Institute.
Photinia(Red tip).
Photinia toxicity to dogs.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas at Austin.
