Is It a Good Idea to Use Red Tip Photinia Shrubs for Landscaping in Texas?
Home Landscaping
Our home in Houston, Texas presently has some red tip photinia bushes that were planted in the outdoor landscaping long before we started living here. Since moving here, I keep them well trimmed and each Spring they reward us with those eye catching colorful red tipped leaves on the new growth which certainly adds beauty to our garden.
These relatively fast growing shrubs which can also be allowed to grow as small tree specimens are seen in many places around town.
But if I were starting a home landscaping project from scratch, would I choose red tipped photinias as a part of the mix?
It depends!
Garden Landscaping
When my mother moved to Houston many years ago, the home she purchased only had a couple of trees in the backyard. We decided that it would look nicer to have some additional plantings and I volunteered to help her with that project.
We would both go to the local nurseries and look at the plants and make decisions as to what we thought would be pretty and once we got the plants and shrubs home, I did all of the laying out of the design as well as digging and planting the chosen specimens.
It was fun!
A garden hose was utilized as an outline pattern for the design of the beds. Then the digging would commence.
Red tip photinias were chosen as a shrub to be planted against the fence and would serve as a green backdrop for the majority of the year. Of course each Spring, we had that blaze of red color for about a month of the year for some additional color in the garden landscape.
This vides shows photinia flowers in bloom.
Fast Growing Hedges
Red tip photinias fit the bill for fast growing hedges and soon we had my mother's back fence covered with these evergreen shrubs with smaller plants and flowers filling out the rest.
All was well for a time.
Then new people moved in the house behind my mother and planted some fast growing water oak trees close to the fence. It did not take long for the photinias to start showing distress.
First of all, photinias while they can tolerate some partial shade they really thrive in full sunlight and like lots of air circulation around them.
Being planted against the fence instead of out in the open would have cut some of the air circulation. But when they became immersed in shade almost all of the time plus undoubtedly had to start competing against those spreading tree roots for nutrients, we noticed a drastic change in their appearance.
Photinia Leaf Spot
My mother's pretty photinia hedge all of a sudden became not so attractive.
A fungus called Entomosporium began attacking the leaves and dark red spots and even grayish looking spots began covering the leaves and then they started falling to the ground leaving bare looking branches.
Not exactly the fence cover that we were seeking!
We took a sample of this diseased looking photinia to the nursery to find out what could be done to treat it. The remedy was not simple!
First of all, every leaf that had fallen had to be continually removed or it could keep re-infecting the plant. Then we had to continually keep spraying a fungicide on a weekly basis. What a pain!
Since I was the landscaper at my mother's house, most of these duties fell to me to execute. My mother did help in picking up fallen leaves which was quite a job as they just kept falling.
Over time once we learned that other things simply could not be corrected like gaining more sunlight and increasing air circulation (the fence obviously had to stay) we finally gave up and dug the few remaining photinia shrubs out that had not already died to be replaced with other hardier plants.
It was a steep learning curve!
Had we planted these plants out in the open and had allowed them to become a small tree which is another way to allow them to grow, our experience could have been different. It may never have developed the leaf spot or even if it had, it might have better recovered.
Photinias can grow up to 15 feet (4.7 meters) tall and when not kept hedged, produce white flowers followed by small red to blackberries later in the year that birds like to eat.
Pruning Information
Conclusion
When looking at these beautiful red tipped leaves of a photinia plant in a nursery just be knowledgeable about what you are purchasing and the requirements of keeping them healthy.
There are many different species of these plants grown in places around the world. They are cold hardy down to around 0 degrees Fahrenheit and can also withstand blazing hot temperatures of 100 degrees F. or more. They grow best in plant zones 7 to 10.
If growing the species called x fraseri in the family of Rosaceae and genus Photinia which are commonly called Red Tip Photinias, just be advised that when used in outdoor landscaping they like plenty of air circulation and plenty of sunlight. They do make beautiful hedges if kept out in the open and kept trimmed. They would naturally grow into a large shrub or even a small tree form if left on their own. They like regular fertilizing and regular amounts of water although they can withstand dry conditions better than some other shrubs.
So is it a good idea to plant photinias? You decide!
Characteristics of things to know about Red Tip Photinias.
Characteristics
| Yes
| No
|
---|---|---|
Grows into a tree or shrub?
| x
| |
Cold hardy down to 0 degrees F?
| x
| |
Can withstand hot temperatures?
| x
| |
Grows in deep shade?
| x
| |
Is disease resistant?
| x
| |
Likes good air circulation?
| x
| |
Related to the Rose family?
| x
| |
Evergreen?
| x
|
Do you like the red tipped photinias in your garden?
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.
Questions & Answers
Are the roots of red tip photinia shrubs invasive? Can they be planted close to concrete?
We recently had some large old red tip photinia shrubs removed and had to get a stump grinder to help remove the root ball. While some peripheral roots were extending out from the plants, they were no larger than approximately an inch to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. One of the shrubs was planted about 2 feet away from a concrete slab and did not damage the concrete.
So to answer your question if you keep the shrubs 2 to 3 feet away from concrete you should be safe judging from my experience.
Helpful 5My Red Tip Photinia shrubs have grown to about 20 feet and have bad fungus. Do I need to just cut them down?
I would definitely cut them back because there will be less to treat if you are going to apply fungicide as often as needed. You also need to be aware that any leaves from the diseased plant need to be removed from the soil.
Helpful 1When is the best time to prune these Photinia Shrubs?
I generally waited to prune our red tip photinia shrubs after the beautiful new growth in spring and early summer had abated. That is when the leaves are at their most red hued stage. That being said you can trim these shrubs almost anytime of the year except about 2 months before the possibility of freezing weather. All types of trimmed shrubs should have time to harden off prior to freezing weather.
© 2011 Peggy Woods
Comments are always welcomed!
Red tipped photina are an invasive species in Texas and should be avoided. They have invaded preserves and green belts in Austin. See austin.gov/invasive on the web. Chose cherry laurel, possumhaw or silk tassel instead.
I expect lots of people are turning their thoughts to sprucing up their yards and maybe making some changes or additions to their yards with spring just around the corner. It's usually here in N. Texas already, but for some reason this year I'm feeling right at home as though I were in WI! 2 inches of snow last Thursday that made driving conditions treacherous, and high temperatures for the day in the low 20s. Yup, low 20s, that's not a typo.
Anyway, this article you've written may be very helpful to people thinking about making some landscaping changes once spring finally arrives. The photinia is very common here and is often used instead of a fence or to block the view of a fence.
Pinned to Awesome Hubpages!
Red tip photinia shrubs are everywhere here in North Texas. Living in an apartment I don't have anything to say about the landscaping, but people with homes seem to love these shrubs because so many people have them. Voted up and useful, gave you 5 more stars, pinned to my 'Trees, Plants, & Flowers' board and will share!
I'm not sure that I've seen this hedge before. The photos are beautiful. It just goes to show that I need to ask questions about any plants or hedges I purchase so they don't become sick and an eye sore in the garden. A lesson learned. How nice to have the beautiful Houston climate for growing plants!
So that's what those are called. I see them here in Southern California and love how the leaves look like colorful flowers. Voting this Up and Interesting.
Several years ago I had red-tip photinias planted along the back of my wood fence and another kind of hedge planted on the two sides. (Dont ask why my yardman did that. I still dont know.)
I was recovering from extensive surgery last summer and get outside to water any of the shrubs. All the hedges on the sides died but the red-tips survived (without watering from January through September) and even thrived.
I had the hedges that died replaced with red-tips and, although I'll be able to water them this summer, it's nice to know that they can survive a drought. And they're just lovely!
Thank you so much, we just bought a house in a newer subdivision in the northern part of Spring, TX. We are thinking about planting them along a rod iron fence. They will get plenty of sun and air circulation.
Spectracide 16 Oz. Immunox Multipurpose Fungicide Spray Concentrate is the best spectracide to use for fungus. It cost about $11.00 at Lowe's. Home Depot does not carry it any more.
I use it maybe once a year or once every three years. It does not take much and you get quick results. One bottle will last two or more years.It is good for shurbs and lawns.
I have had red tipped photinias for sixteen years and can count the times I have had to spray.
Great hub and info into landscaping. My folks could use a natural fence around their property. This just might work for them! : ) Thanks for sharing such an indepth hub on this subject. I think I will have to pass this one along to my brother as well. It is good to know the scale of things, such as disease to watch out for and best environments to plant these hedges in. Voted up and bookmarked. :D
Peggy - sounds like something I have been looking for - a friend has a barren area that is in the middle of no where in his yard - irrigated, so good water, strong sun and no shade.
What do you think?
Good information as always - voted up and useful
q
I was pleased to see this bush/tree in your hub. I have noticed that many people use this plant for hedges and wondered what it was called as I really wanted to have it in my landscaping (just starting out, so have been looking for ideas :D ) Thanks for this! It was very timely for me LOL!
Thanks for the hub and beautiful photos
These are beautiful, Peggy. Will they grow well in a New England climate? Nice hub.
Stunning plant and stunning Hub!
Awesomely beautiful Peggy. I always love your pics! Thank you dear heart!
They do make a lovely colourful hedge but as you say perhaps are not as easy as one may think
Hi, they are certainly gorgeous, what a shame that you had to find out the hard way where exactly to plant them. I personally would like them in my garden, and now I know where not to plant them! such a shame to see them like that, and what great info about moving the leaves to prevent the disease spreading to the rest of them, thanks nell
No, it's not a good idea but a GREAT idea! :) The positives seem to outweigh the negatives. And judging from your lovely photos, I think it's totally worth an effort. Rated up!
I wish my photina looked that good - our deer population seems to love them also - but for breakfast!
Wow, amazing work my friend. I'm really interested in getting those types of flowers for the hot season.
You're right Red Tip Photinias are good for landscaping, specially to cover areas which needs touches so that they don't look dull.
Peggy, they are absolutely wonderful. Thank you.
This is beautiful Peggy,from beginning to end. One to bookmark plus vote up.
Thank you for sharing with us.
Take care
Eiddwen.
Good read. I like red tips a lot, thanks for the info.
I love red-tipped, and I have planted quite a fewthroughtout the years and houses. I always assumed they were very hearty (and NOT the product of my green thumb). Ha! I never considered letting one become a tree. Thanks for the info.
Very useful landscaping tips. Colourful and refreshing! VOTED UP and rated BEAUTIFUL and USEFUL!!
I agree Red Tip Photinias are beautiful in the spring with their red foilage. Thanks for the helpful information on how to prevent and control the fungus that is destoying this beautiful and fast growing shrub. Nice photos and videos.
Great coverage on Red Tip Photinias as landscape options - personally I like their speed of growth and the color they add - as a hedge I think they are great for dividing up a large yard.
Hi, Peggy. You always come up with wonderful photograph and very well written report. That makes you different. I should show this to my father. He will love this hub. Rated up!
Prasetio
I think they are very colorful and would do well here in Florida, but the fungus part scares me. Unfortunately,I do not have a green thumb as much as I would love to be able to grow flowers and vegetables. Very useful/up hub.
The red tips give such a great color to the landscape. I appreciate all the information you gave in your hub. Rated up.
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