Plant guide

Fraser photinia.

Photinia x fraseri

Pronounced foh-TIN-ee-uh FRAY-zer-eye

Also known as Photinia x fraseri, Chinese hawthorn, Fraser's photinia, redtip

This popular evergreen shrub is well known for its vibrant, fiery red new growth that eventually turns a deep, glossy green. It makes a fantastic hedge or privacy screen because it grows quite quickly. You'll love how it brightens up your garden throughout the seasons.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 10 to 15 feet
Growth rate: Fast

Care

Plant this shrub in a spot with good drainage to keep the roots happy. Watch for leaf spot, which can show up as dark spots on the foliage if the air circulation is poor. Pruning helps keep the shape tidy and encourages those lovely red leaves to pop.

Watering: Water deeply once the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to support active growth.
Pruning: Trim back branches after the first flush of growth to maintain your desired shape.
Repotting: Repot only if the plant becomes root-bound or needs a larger container for stability.
Soil: Well-draining, fertile soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5

Safety

Pets: The leaves, especially the young red growth, and the seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can be harmful to cats and dogs if chewed or eaten in quantity. Serious poisoning is uncommon.

How to identify it

Glossy, leathery, dark green leaves
Bright red new foliage growth
Clusters of small white flowers
Evergreen, dense shrub habit

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Science

Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Photinia
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your fraser photinia growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.