Pleached Photinia, Pleached Red Robin, Christmas Berry or Red Tip Photinia

Pleached Photinia Red Robin, Christmas Berry, Red Tip Photinia – Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’ (Rosaceae)

Photinia is one of the most popular and versatile evergreen shrubs available. Of the numerous Photina hybrids available, Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’ is probably the most widely planted cultivar of them all and it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

Sometimes called a tree, this medium sized shrub brings a burst of fiery red colour to the garden. It has a dense bushy crown when fully mature and is capable of reaching heights of 3-7 meters. Its habit is upright when young, but this quickly spreads outwards as the plant matures. It thoroughly enjoys being managed and trained in a formal fashion with the result it is used widely in gardens as hedging, solitaire specimen pieces and pleached trees.

Its 10cm long, dark glossy elliptic leaves, appear deep red in colour in the spring, slowly changing to green as the season progresses, creating further interest. From May – June creamy white flowers emerge each season (unusual for an evergreen), which look particularly good against the bright red leaves and honeybees love them. The flowers are followed by small red berries approximately 0.5cm, which later turn black, providing food for birds including thrushes and starlings with seeds being dispersed in their droppings.

Planting

Photinia prefers well drained soil but will thrive in most soil types including clay with the correct preparation (remember drainage). In terms of aspect it does very well in full sunlight but will also respond reasonably well in areas of partial shade although it will not grow quite as quickly. Considered winter hardy and frost resistant although it has been known for early spring shoots to be damaged in late frosts. Generally, this damage has no ill effect on the plant, and it is well suited to the British climate. It prefers to be planted in sheltered areas where it doesn’t need to compete with other large specimens for light as the foliage covering can become sparse in cramped conditions, not therefore suitable for deep shade. Photinia prefers not to have its shallow roots covered entirely by hard landscaping.

Clipping and Pruning Trained Photinia

To keep the Red Robin looking its best, it needs pruning and clipping back regularly to keep the foliage and crown thick and dense – especially the case with stilted screens. Suitable for large and small gardens, parks and commercial sites such as company headquarters, it makes an excellent containerised plant, so ideal for roof gardens and raised beds – remember an annual feed programme to ensure the plant continues to thrive and look its best.

Available in containers as Hi pleached screens and Low pleached screens, hedge plants, instant hedge elements, specimen solitaire pieces to 500cm tall, topiary balls/cubes/ball on stem and clear stem trees. A popular plant available in containers and pots while stocks last.

Planting advice for Pleached trees, Freshly Pleached trees, Espalier trees and Freshly Espaliered trees.

An important consideration when planting pleached or espalier trees in a straight line is the slope of the ground. Pleached or Espalier trees look their best when they are planted on flat or gently sloping ground. Doing so will line up the frames and stems and creating effect of one continuous line when viewed at all angles. Even on a gradual slope this effect can be achieved. However, with a slope of more than 10-12 degrees, it may be necessary to step the trees/frames when planting (the frames on freshly pleached trees can be manipulated to account for a sharper slope of perhaps 15 degree if necessary).

To create a good visual effect, it is important to line up the stems and frames (unless you are planting them in a circle or semi-circle). To start off the planting holes should measure roughly double the width of the rootball or pot….

Read our full planting guide here

How are Pleached Trees made?

Pleached trees or screen trees start life as a seedling or cutting, much like any other tree, being repotted or replanted a number of times in their formative years. They grow happily on the nursery with hundreds or even thousands of other trees. When the time is right, highly skilled nurserymen and woman go out into the field amongst the trees with tags in hand and pick the very best trees for pleaching. The criteria for choosing the best trees for training includes, selecting those with the straightest stems, healthy root stock and appropriately spreading and uninform crowns. Once tagged and lifted the trees are loaded onto trailers and sent to potting sheds for training. Read our full guide to pleaching trees here

Delivery varies depending on:

• How many trees you require
• If you want us to plant them
• Accessibility of the site
• If any need sourcing
• The seasonal ability to lift or plant specific species

  Please contact us to discuss your individual requirements.