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PRING-BLOOMING shrubs are plentiful enough – no need for me to recite – but for a few it’s not so much about flowers but foliage.
That’s when Red Robin bursts into song . . . in a horticultural sort of way, of course.
Red Robin is a variety of photinia, a hardy, mostly evergreen family of shrubs which – I would wager – grows in many gardens, probably tucked away at the back, alongside the laurel or griselina, or lost amid a host of more popular plants.
And more’s the pity!
Photogenic photinias: Above – My newly installed Red Robin flaunts its fabulous foliage; below – a mature photinia in majestic pose.
Aptly named, Red Robin bears eye-opening red leaves about now which last well into summer before fading into deep green as the weeks pass.
This particular hybrid is by far the pick of the bunch – photinia boasts 60 species in total and all of them natives of the Asian continent – for it is not only relatively compact at about 8ft if left untouched but will positively relish chalky soils.
That, of course, isn’t the case with photinia’s springtime foliage “rival” pieris which demands lime-free roots.
There’s another notable comparison – whereas pieris does produce prettier dangling blooms, photinias score by morphing their white hawthorn-like panicles into red or black berries in autumn.
Red Robin is a variety from Photinia fraseri and is likely the only one you’ll spot at the garden centre. It was discovered as an accidental seedling in 1940 at Fraser Nurseries, Birmingham – no, not Birmingham, UK, but Birming-HAM, Alabama, in the US, after which the clone was named.
Red Robin arrived 15 years later in 1955 in New Zealand and, because of it’s more modest growth rate, is best suited to our suburban shrubberies.
Rethinking my earlier comment about Red Robin, it’s just possible some larger nurseries will stock Redstart or Photinia glabra Rubens.
Both look similar to Red Robin with shiny waxy leaves, but Redstart bears yellow-flushed, orange-red berries while Rubens’ fruits are a clearer red.
As for soil needs, there’s no need to worry! Photinias are happy anywhere, in sun or semi-shade, semi-ripe cuttings can be taken in summer and trimming can be done at any time to retain whatever height ticks your personal boxes.
But it’s best to wait until Red Robin’s lavish livery passes its best as its fabulous foliage may stay scarce until the following year.
COMPOST KEENIES CRACK ON
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EWS just in from those keen composters of Marldon, South Devon, who have been featured here a couple of times recently.
► Sustainable South Hams CIC is partnering with Devon Community Composting Network and South Hams District Council to deliver a series of “composting pilot projects” to encourage more home composting and in the community (www.sussh.org).
► A two-day community composting masterclass from Saturday, April 27th (10am) to Sunday, April 28th, led by Nicky Scott and Ben Bryant. This will offer a deep dive into developing a community composting project. Venue is South Brent Old School Community Centre. Further info by emailing marldon.community.compost@gmail.com
Graham's Garden Buddies 