A Photinia Red Robin Hedge is both elegant and functional. They are very popular due to the new foliage being a tremendous bright red colour. The leaves age to become dark green which creates a dual colouring on this amazing plant. Moreover, the large and glossy leaves afford both a lush appeal which serve well for both screening and shelter.
The growth rate of Photinia 'Red Robin' can vary depending on several factors, but it's generally considered a medium-fast growing shrub. The average growth rate is about 30-40 cm per year. With exceptional growing conditions, however, they can grow up to 1 m in a year. It typically reaches its full size in 3-5 years.
The growth rate will be influenced by the climate, soil quality, and the care it receives. In warmer climates Photinia grow at a faster rate. Similarly, on a well-drained and fertile soil the plants will grow incredibly well and fast. If the plants are watered during dry periods, given an annual dose of fertiliser, and not trimmed too aggressively, they will respond with quicker growth. We recommend you use The Plant Company Shrub Fertiliser as it has everything the plants need for 12-months, and the plants thrive with it.
There are many benefits to growing a Red Robin hedge. Firstly, they create privacy in the form of a dense and colourful screen. This has the added advantage of blocking noise from either traffic or noisy neighbours! The second benefit is they provide year-round interest. The vibrant new growth in spring and red berries in autumn serve to complement the beautiful foliage. Finally, they are low maintenance and relatively easy to care. You can trim them as you little or as often as you like, and they will generally recover well.
Photinia Red Robin is a stunning choice for hedging. It grows moderately fast and can reach 4 metres in height and 2 metres in width if left untrimmed. As a hedge, it is generally clipped to 1-2 m tall and 1 m wide. Trimming is usually undertaken in late spring and late autumn and this results in a stunning hedge that is both manicured and stimulates new growth.
The most important thing to get right with Photinia in NZ is soil drainage. A well-drained soil is essential, otherwise plants will struggle and often fail. If this is a problem that can’t be solved by either raising up the height of the soil or putting in drainage, better options will be either Corokia or Coprosma.
The ideal spacing or planting distance for a Red Robin hedge is 40-50 cm apart. With this spacing the plants will compete with each other for light and push each other upwards in the process. At the same time, they will fill out nicely at the base so you are not left with an annoying gap between the plants. You can space plants wider but that will have two effects. The first is the hedge will take longer to fill in and you may end up with a gap at the bottom of the hedge between the plants that often bothers people. For the sake of 1-3 extra plants, go with the recommended spacing to avoid future headaches!
If you have purchased large and bushy Red Robin plants, these can be spaced up to 1 m apart for a hedge as often they are already 60 cm wide with dense foliage already. Check with The Plant Company if you are in doubt here.
The most popular Photinia hedge varieties are presented below along with their characteristics:
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