Robusta Photinia

Robusta Photinia (Photinia x fraseri 'Robusta') is the quickest way to a tall glossy hedge in a garden that gets real winters. Left alone it reaches about 4m tall and 3m wide, and every flush of new growth opens bright scarlet before hardening to deep green. Frost hardy, drought tolerant and untroubled by poor soil.

Why you'll love it

• Red new growth on repeat. Each flush arrives brilliant red and settles to glossy green over a few weeks, and trimming triggers another one.
• Genuinely frost hardy. It suits cool temperate gardens as readily as warm temperate and subtropical ones, rare in a fast evergreen screen.
• Quick to close a gap. Growth is fast in the early seasons, so a young hedge reads as solid sooner than most.
• Tough where it counts. Drought, wind and poor soil tolerant, so it holds up on exposed boundaries and thin builder's fill.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row. Tighter spacing does not close the hedge sooner, it only makes watering and feeding harder.

Windbreaks. A staggered double row at 1m filters wind across an exposed boundary rather than forcing it over the top.

Topiary and shaping. The branching is dense enough to hold a clipped ball, cone or clear trunked standard.

Growing Robusta Photinia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the reddest growth and the densest habit; part shade works but the colour is muted. One honest caveat: in humid coastal and subtropical gardens photinia can pick up leaf spot, so give it sun and airflow rather than a cramped shaded fence line.

Soil. Almost any soil suits it provided water moves through. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound and dig compost through the whole run. Keep 75mm of mulch over the roots and clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then ease back as the roots go down. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring and late summer keeps the flushes coming.

Pruning. Tip prune from planting to build density low down, then take two or three light trims a year to hold your height. It shoots from old wood, so a neglected hedge can be cut back hard.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in 140mm packs of ten, 200mm packs of six, 250mm packs of three, and single 400mm plants. The packs are the sensible choice for a long boundary: young single stemmed plants, cheaper per metre, and quick to catch up. The 250mm and 400mm sizes arrive already branched with height on day one.

Plants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Expect a quiet few weeks after planting, then new growth within about six weeks in warm weather. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete photinia care guide
• Compare hedging and screening plants
• Our best hedging plants by height
• How to create a great hedge and keep it sharp

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. At that spacing the canopies knit together while each plant keeps enough room to stay furnished at the base.

Can I keep it lower than 4m?

Yes. Two or three trims a year hold it anywhere from about 1.5m upwards, and each cut brings on a fresh red flush.

Will it handle frost?

It is frost hardy and suited to cool temperate gardens, which is its main advantage over lilly pilly. Protect very young plants through their first winter, then it looks after itself.

Is it safe around pets?

No. Photinia foliage contains cyanogenic compounds and is not safe for cats, dogs or livestock to chew. Keep clippings away from stock, and choose another species for a paddock boundary.