Govindamma

     

PLANT NAME : RED TIP PHOTINIA

PLANTED BY  :  Govindamma

Location           :  Admin Building

DATE                :     07-3-2024

TIME                :     04:57 AM

                      

                              PLANT LOCATION

 PLANT DESCRIPTION 

Photinias are large shrubs that were once used for tall hedging here in the south. The most common photinia is the appropriately named “red tip”, which is easily recognized each spring as it sends out its first flush of bright red new leaves. As with many popular plant species, it has been widely planted and over used.

CLASSIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

Plant Type	Shrubs / Trees
Evergreen - Deciduous	Evergreen
Overall Mature Size	Medium

Also Grown As	Bush  / Column
Mature Height & Spread Natural Growth Habit  Exposure Water      Flower Color Bloom Time Special Features	10-15' x 10-15'  Rounded  Full Sun Medium Water White Spring Attracts Birds/Butterflies / Cold Hardy / Desert Conditions / Hedge /  Intermountain Conditions /  Screen / Seacoast Conditions.

BIOGEOGRPHY 

                                       New growth in spring emerges a bright, luminous red in a showy display lasting about 2 to 3 weeks. These leathery red leaves, with finely serrated margins, gradually change to glossy dark green color. Around late April, heads of creamy white flowers add to the show just as the new foliage starts to lose its color.

DESCRIPTION AND ETHNOBOTANY

Leaves	Evergreen leaves are oval in shape and 2¾ to 4 inches long. New growth is bright red. The color lasts two to four weeks before maturing to green.
Flowers/Fruit	Small white clusters of flowers with an unpleasant smell appear in mid- spring and are followed by red, berrylike fruits.
Size & Growth Rate	A red tip grows 10 to 15 feet tall and 5 to 8 feet wide, although it can get larger with age. It is a moderate to fast growing plant.

Culture	While it is an extremely tough and vigorous plant that will grow in almost any soil,(except extremely wet ones), red tip photinia prefers a rich, well- drained soil. It prefers full sun to partial shade. Good air circulation is a must.
Landscape Use	Red tips were commonly used to create tall hedges and were often planted  too close together to allow for adequate air circulation, which made them more susceptible to leaf spot. Red tip photinia is highly susceptible to Entomosporium leaf spot, and as such its use for hedging is not recommended.

TAXONOMY

Classification	Angiosperm, dicot
Family	Rosaceae
Common name	Red Tip

       

USES 

                Red Tip Photinia is an evergreen plant and are mostly used as hedges in landscape designs. These shrubs are known for their beautiful, dense white flowers in the spring that turn into black berries in the fall.

CARE

• Plant red tip photinia at least five feet apart.
• Let the well-draining soil dry out before watering; water at the base, not overhead.
• Give enough space for air to move through the leaves between each plant.
• Prune at least annually to thin growth and improve airflow.
• Grows best in full sun, although it tolerates shade.
• Fertilize if the soil lacks nutrients

POLLINATION

• Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and other insects are attracted to the Red Tip Photinia's sweet-smelling flowers and play a crucial role in transferring pollen from one flower to another. 
• Adequate pollination results in the development of small, reddish berries, which are edible but not commonly consumed by humans. 
• The Red Tip Photinia requires cross-pollination by insect pollinators to produce fruit. Good pollination also helps ensure healthy plant growth and increased reproductive success.

SPECIES:

PHOTINIA	P x fraseri 'Red Robin', P. villosa and P.  davidiana.

FRUIT, AND FLOWER

Fruit Color(s) Fruit Type Fruit Length/ Fruit Width Fruit Description Flower Color Flower Size Flower Description	Red/Burgundy Pome < 1 inch Fruits are globose berry-like pomes that are red and less than an inch in size. White 3-6 inches Flowers are white, foetid, and less than an inch in size. Inflorescence is a terminal cyme that is 5-6" across.