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Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus)

Rosaceae

Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus): Perfect Plant for Beginners

Photinia

Easy ☀️ Bright indirect ⚠️ Toxic to pets

Low-maintenance plant well-suited to hedging and garden borders. Drought-tolerant once established. Annual pruning encourages fresh red growth flushes.

💧 Watering

Every 8 days

☀️ Light

Bright indirect

🌡️ Temperature

-15° - 35°C

💨 Humidity

40% - 70%

Categories

What is Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus)?

Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus) (Photinia) is a easy-care plant from the Rosaceae family. Photinia is a genus of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the Rosaceae family, prized for their strikingly bright red new growth. The most popular cultivar, Photinia × fraseri 'Red Robin', is widely used as a hedge plant across Europe and temperate regions worldwide. Species range from compact shru...

Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus) grows up to 5.0m, with spread of 300cm, watering every 8 days, -15°C – 35°C, 40–70% humidity. It is not suitable for indoor environments and not safe for pets.

Unlike many tropical plants, Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus) tolerates watering mistakes. Best for beginners. Without precautions, ingestion can cause irritation in pets. Keep out of reach of cats and dogs.

How to Care for Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus)?

TLDR: Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus) needs Bright indirect, watering every 8 days, and temperatures between -15-35°C with 40-70% humidity.

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How Often Should You Water Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus)?

Water every 7–10 days. Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Established plants tolerate dry spells well.

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How Much Light Does Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus) Need?

Full sun to partial shade. Full sun produces the most vivid red new foliage and best flowering.

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What Is the Best Soil for Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus)?

Prefers well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6–7.5). Tolerates most soil types including clay with adequate organic matter.

Care Schedule

🌱

Fertilize

Every 90 days

What Is Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus) and Where Does It Come From?

Photinia is a genus of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the Rosaceae family, prized for their strikingly bright red new growth. The most popular cultivar, Photinia × fraseri 'Red Robin', is widely used as a hedge plant across Europe and temperate regions worldwide. Species range from compact shrubs to small trees reaching up to 5 m, bearing white flower clusters in spring.

How Big Does Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus) Grow?

TLDR: Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus) can reach up to 5.0m tall with Medium growth rate.

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Max height

5.0m

↔️

Spread

3.0m

📈

Growth rate

Medium

🍃

Foliage

Evergreen

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Warning: Toxic Plant

This plant can be toxic if ingested. Keep out of reach of:

🐱 Cats 🐶 Dogs

Plant Uses

🌺

Ornamental

Great for decoration

Is your plant showing symptoms?

Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:

What Diseases Commonly Affect Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus)?

TLDR: Photinia / Christmas Berry (genus) is susceptible to 5 known diseases. Monitor regularly for early detection.

Leaf Spot

Medium

Leaf spot is a common fungal disease caused by various pathogens including Alternaria, Ascochyta, Colletotrichum, Septoria, and Venturia. It primarily affects leaves, causing discolored spots that can lead to premature leaf drop if left untreated.

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Fire Blight

CRITICAL

Fire blight is a highly destructive and contagious bacterial disease caused by Erwinia amylovora. It primarily affects plants in the Rosaceae family, including apple, pear, quince trees, and various ornamental plants. The disease can destroy an entire orchard in a single growing season under ideal conditions, with the bacterium moving approximately 11 inches per week in new growth.

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Powdery Mildew

Medium

Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease caused by various fungi species including Erysiphe, Podosphaera, Oïdium, and Leveillula. It affects over 10,000 plant species worldwide. The disease thrives in warm, dry climates with high humidity and appears as a distinctive white powdery coating on plant surfaces.

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Root Rot

High

Root rot is a serious fungal disease that affects the root system of plants, causing them to decay and die. It is primarily caused by overwatering, poor drainage, or soil-borne fungi such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium. The disease thrives in waterlogged conditions where roots are deprived of oxygen, making them susceptible to fungal infection.

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Fun Facts

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The brilliant red new leaves of Photinia gradually mature to glossy dark green — giving hedges a two-tone look throughout the growing season.

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Photinia × fraseri is a 20th-century hybrid that became one of the most planted hedge shrubs in European gardens.

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Leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides — mildly toxic to pets if ingested in quantity.

Compare with similar plants

Attribute Difficulty Light Watering Pet Safe
Peace Lily Easy Low light 4d ⚠️
Swiss Cheese Plant Easy Partial shade 10d ⚠️
Golden Pothos Easy Low light 8d ⚠️
ZZ Plant Easy Low light 18d ⚠️

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Sources & References

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