Photinia 'Carré Rouge' (Red Robin) is a stunning evergreen shrub renowned for its spectacular seasonal colour display and versatile garden applications. This hardy ornamental plant combines year-round structure with brilliant red new growth, making it an exceptional choice for both formal and informal garden settings.
Striking foliage: Glossy, leathery leaves that emerge brilliant red before maturing to deep green
Evergreen nature: Provides year-round interest and structure to your garden
Versatile growth habit: Can be grown as a specimen shrub, hedge, or even trained as a small tree
Hardy constitution: Tolerates a wide range of growing conditions once established
Mature height: 2.0-2.5 metres
Mature spread: 2.0-2.5 metres
Growth rate: Moderate to fast
Hardiness: RHS H5 (hardy to -15°C to -10°C)
Soil pH: Tolerates slightly acidic to neutral soils (6.0-7.0)
Spring
The most spectacular season for Photinia 'Carré Rouge'. New shoots emerge in brilliant crimson-red, creating a stunning contrast against the mature dark green foliage. Small clusters of creamy-white flowers may appear on mature plants.
Summer
Young red foliage gradually transitions to bronze-green, whilst the plant maintains its dense, attractive form. Regular pruning encourages fresh red growth throughout the growing season.
Autumn & Winter
Maintains its evergreen structure with mature leaves staying glossy and green. Some leaves may develop subtle bronze or purple tints in cold weather, adding winter interest.
Light Requirements
Preferred: Full sun to partial shade
Optimal colour: Best red colouration develops in full sun positions
Tolerance: Will grow in partial shade but colour intensity may be reduced
Soil Requirements
Type: Well-draining, fertile soil
Drainage: Essential - will not tolerate waterlogged conditions
pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0)
Tolerance: Adaptable to clay, loam, or sandy soils with good drainage
Climate Tolerance
Temperature: Hardy in most of the UK
Wind: Tolerates moderate wind exposure but benefits from shelter in exposed locations
Coastal: Moderately tolerant of coastal conditions
When to Plant
Best time: Spring (March-May) or early autumn (September-October)
Container plants: Can be planted year-round when weather conditions allow
Planting Instructions
Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and slightly shallower than its depth
Improve heavy clay soils with compost or grit for better drainage
Position the plant so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil
Backfill with a mixture of native soil and compost
Water thoroughly and apply a 5cm mulch layer, keeping it away from the stem
Spacing
Specimen planting: 2-3 metres apart
Hedge planting: 60-90cm apart for a dense screen
Watering
First year: Regular watering essential, especially during dry spells
Established plants: Drought tolerant but benefits from watering during extended dry periods
Method: Deep, infrequent watering preferred over frequent shallow watering
Feeding
Spring: Apply a balanced general-purpose fertiliser in early spring
Mulching: Annual application of compost or well-rotted manure around the base
Container plants: Feed monthly during growing season with liquid fertiliser
Pruning
Timing: Late spring to early summer after the main flush of red growth
Method: Light pruning to maintain shape and encourage fresh red shoots
Hedge maintenance: Trim 2-3 times per growing season for dense growth
Winter pruning: Avoid harsh winter pruning which can damage tender growth
Hedging
Excellent for creating attractive, dense hedges and screens. The evergreen nature provides year-round privacy whilst the red new growth adds seasonal excitement.
Specimen Planting
Makes a stunning focal point when grown as a standalone shrub. The dramatic colour changes throughout the seasons create exceptional garden interest.
Mixed Borders
Combines beautifully with other shrubs, particularly those with silver, purple, or variegated foliage that complement the red new growth.
Containers
Suitable for large containers and planters, making it perfect for patios, courtyards, and urban gardens.
Contrasting foliage: Silver-leaved plants like lavender, rosemary, or artemisia
Complementary colours: Purple-leaved plants such as purple berberis or heuchera
Seasonal partners: Spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips for early colour
Evergreen structure: Box, yew, or holly for year-round backbone planting
Leaf Spot
Occasional fungal issues in humid conditions. Ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering.
Fire Blight
Rare but serious bacterial disease. Remove affected branches immediately and sterilise pruning tools.
Poor Colour Development
Usually due to insufficient sunlight. Consider relocating to a sunnier position for better red colouration.
Flowers: Small white blooms attract beneficial insects
Dense growth: Provides nesting sites for small birds
Berries: Occasional red berries (on mature plants) offer food for birds
Quality indicators: Look for plants with healthy, well-developed root systems
Size options: Available in various sizes from 30cm to 1.5m+
Timing: Spring purchases allow for full growing season establishment
Photinia 'Carré Rouge' is an outstanding choice for gardeners seeking a reliable, attractive evergreen with exceptional seasonal interest. Its brilliant red new growth, combined with excellent hardiness and versatility, makes it suitable for a wide range of garden situations. Whether used for hedging, specimen planting, or mixed borders, this remarkable shrub delivers consistent performance and stunning visual impact throughout the year.
Buying Shrubs from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we sell a variety of shrubs both evergreen and deciduous with a variety of flowering times throughout the year. At certain times of the year our shrubs you buy from us may not look like the images shown on our website when deciduous leaves have fallen, the shrub has finished flowering or has been trimmed back.
Some leaves on evergreen shrubs can be damaged in winter by frost or harsh winds but in spring new leaves will readily replace those damaged. This is quite normal on many evergreen varieties and is preferable to plants grown with excessive protection that show cold shock once planted out and establish less satisfactory initially.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
* Please Note: Shrubs in 20 litre pots and above might require a pallet delivery starting at £79.99 per pallet. Depending on the exact pot size and height it may be possible to get approximately 5 plants per pallet at no extra cost. The maximum height we can dispatch on a pallet is 2.0m, this includes the height of the pallet and pot.
Shrubs are deciduous or evergreen woody plants, and often provide fragrant flowers, berries and foliage. They are good for structural framework, and they can provide a wonderful shelter and food source for wildlife.
Planting and Conditions
Container grown shrubs can be grown at any time of year. It is a little known fact that shrubs planted in the autumn and winter will be easier to look after than those planted in the spring and summer, because they will have time to establish and become hardy in the cooler months.
Plant the shrub at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Planting too deeply can result in root and stem rot.
One of the biggest causes of death in new shrubs is drought stress, so keep it well watered until it’s established.
Make sure you loosen the soil prior to planting. Most shrubs are tolerant of most soil types as long as it is fairly well draining.
Most shrubs will grow happily in containers, but they will be much more demanding on feeding and watering than shrubs in the ground would be. They will also need potting on every couple of years so that they don’t suffocate or become stunted in their pot.
Aftercare and Pruning
Once established, shrubs generally do not require much water. However, at first they need careful, frequent watering and should not be left to dry out.
Shrubs in the ground are generally not demanding and in most cases, annual feeding with general purpose fertilizer will suffice. Shrubs in containers may need more feeding; usually from early spring until late summer.
Shrubs also benefit from mulching in order to supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide vital nutrients. Mulch also greatly improves soil conditions. Shrubs can be mulched in late winter, after fertiliser has been applied, but it can be mulched through autumn to late spring as long as the ground is damp.
All shrubs benefit from dead-heading once spent flowers become apparent. Rhododendrons and Lilac especially benefit from the removal of dead flowers.
Some shrubs may show signs of reverted growth or ‘sporting’. This is where random shoots of different leaves associated with the plant’s parentage begin to appear. Most commonly this is where plants with variegated leaves sprout pure green growths instead of variegated ones.
To control reversion, remove reverted shoots promptly to discourage them. Reverted shoots are usually much more vigorous than the variegated ones, and thus should be completely pruned out and cut back into wood containing variegated foliage.
Potential Issues
Although shrubs are usually very robust garden plants, they can sometimes start to decline with no apparent or obvious reason.
This will start with browning leaves, which could indicate plant stress due to lack of water or waterlogging, an establishment failure or, in the worst case scenario, honey fungus. Another cause of leaf browning is a high salt content in the soil. This could be a natural occurrence, especially if you live near the ocean, or it could be from over fertilisation.
To remedy a high salt content, cut back on fertiliser and step up your watering regime for the next few weeks. If you live by the ocean, this will be harder to remedy—but stepping up your watering will help to wash some of the salt away all the same.
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