Fraser's Photinia is a large, evergreen shrub or small tree that grows up to 20' tall. This plant blooms in mid-spring, after P. serratifolia and before P. glabra. This plant is also intermediate in size between the two. Fraser Photinia's fetid blooms are offensive to many people. New foliage is a colorful reddish-bronze, and reddish buds are visible most of the year. This plant is alkaline tolerant, and drought and salt spray tolerant. It is intolerant of wet conditions and has pest and disease problems. Form: Upright; slightly rounded; oval Quick ID Hints: Leaves are alternate, coriaceous, and obovate Leaves are reddish when young Leaves have 10-18 pairs of lateral veins
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Oval
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Obovate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Lustrous, dark green leaves; 2.7-4 in. long; copper-red new growth Leaves are alternate, simple, obovate, 3-4" long, 1-2" wide, serrulate, coriaceous, with 10-18 pairs of parallel leaf veins.
Flower color
White
Flower form
Cyme
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Flowers are white, foetid, and less than an inch in size. Inflorescence is a terminal cyme that is 5-6" across.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruits are globose berry-like pomes that are red and less than an inch in size.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Stems are stout and greenish brown in color.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South China
Play value
Screening; Shade
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Pome
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Recreational Play Area
Landscape theme
Children's Garden
Design feature
Border; Hedge; Screen/Privacy; Small groups; Specimen