Photinia 'Red Robin' Bare Root
Photinia 'Red Robin' is one of Britain's most popular evergreen hedging plants, beloved by gardeners for its spectacular fiery red new growth that emerges in spring and autumn. This vigorous, hardy shrub creates a stunning living screen that provides year-round colour and privacy, making it an excellent choice for hedges, borders, or specimen planting. Our bare root plants offer exceptional value and establish quickly when planted during the dormant season.
Key Features
This versatile shrub produces glossy, lance-shaped leaves that emerge in brilliant shades of bright red before maturing to a lustrous dark green. The plant typically reaches 4-5 metres in height if left unpruned, though it responds beautifully to regular trimming and can be maintained at any height from 1-4 metres. In late spring, clusters of small white flowers appear, adding further ornamental interest and attracting beneficial insects to your garden.
Growing Conditions
Photinia 'Red Robin' thrives in most soil types, provided they're reasonably well-drained. It performs best in full sun to partial shade positions, though you'll achieve the most vibrant red colouration when plants receive plenty of sunlight. Hardy down to approximately -15°C, this robust shrub tolerates exposed sites and coastal conditions, making it suitable for gardens throughout the UK. It's also reasonably tolerant of pollution, which makes it an excellent choice for urban gardens.
Planting Your Bare Root Photinia
Bare root plants should be planted between November and March, whilst the plant is dormant. Before planting, soak the roots in water for several hours to rehydrate them thoroughly. Dig a hole twice the width of the root system and ensure it's deep enough so the soil mark on the stem sits level with your garden soil. Mix some well-rotted compost or manure into the excavated soil to give your plant the best start.
Position the plant carefully, spread out the roots, and backfill with the improved soil, firming gently as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly after planting, even if the soil seems moist. For hedging, space plants 60-90cm apart depending on how quickly you want a solid screen.
Care and Maintenance
Once established, Photinia 'Red Robin' is remarkably low-maintenance. Water regularly during the first growing season to help establish a deep root system, then only during prolonged dry spells. Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring to encourage vigorous growth and vibrant red foliage.
Pruning is best carried out in late spring after flowering, or in late summer. Regular light trimming encourages the colourful new growth that makes this plant so desirable. For hedges, trim two or three times during the growing season to maintain a neat shape. Remove any damaged or diseased growth promptly.
Common Uses
Photinia 'Red Robin' excels as a formal or informal hedge, providing an effective windbreak and privacy screen whilst offering far more visual interest than traditional evergreens. It's equally striking as a standalone specimen shrub or planted in mixed borders where its colourful foliage provides a bold backdrop for flowering plants. Container growing is possible for several years if you use a large pot with adequate drainage.
Why Choose Bare Root?
Bare root plants represent excellent value for money and, contrary to popular belief, establish just as successfully as container-grown specimens when planted during the correct season. The exposed root system means you can inspect the plant's health before purchasing, and the lack of pot and compost makes them more environmentally friendly and easier to transport. Many gardeners find that bare root plants actually develop stronger root systems as they're encouraged to grow into the surrounding soil rather than remaining pot-bound.
Bare Root is usually dispatched between early November and late March. Exact dates vary year to year depending on the weather. We cannot guarantee availability for a certain date at the beginning or end of the season.
Important Bare Root Care
As soon as you receive your bare root plants place the items upright in a bucket of clean water immediately leaving them for at least 2 hours. Only take plants out as you need them for planting.
Q: When is bare root season?
A: Our bare root season usually runs from November to March but it can depend on the weather conditions, we'd always recommend buying at the end of autumn rather than waiting for spring.
Q: Does the plant size include the roots?
A: No, all bare root plant sizes quoted exclude the roots.
Q: What size plants will I receive?
A: Stock size varies through the season, our 'Plant Size' are give as a guide and you will receive plants somewhere in that range. We are unable to specify exactly how tall the plants will be within that range.
Q: How old will the plants be?
A: Most of our 'Plant Sizes' include the age of the plant, this is shown as a sum e.g. 1+2 which in this case would indicate that the plants are 3 years old. The first number is how long the plant has spent in the seedbed and the second is the number of year it has spent lined out in the field. Where the sum starts with a 0+ this indicates that the plants were grown from a rooted cutting.
Q: Can I get a discount for bulk purchases?
A: We offer a discount banding on bare root plants making them cheaper the more you buy, see the table on each page for details of the price within each band.
Q: Do I need canes?
A: Bamboo canes are perfect for giving young saplings, hedging plants, climbers and other tall shrubs the support they need when they start to establish. Unless you are planting in a completely sheltered spot with very little chance of wind then we would always recommend using a cane for support.
Q: Do I need rabbit guards?
A: Spiral Rabbit Guards are the most popular, low cost tree protection for young saplings, seedlings, transplants and hedging plants from browsing animals such as voles, mice, rabbits and hares. Spiral Rabbit Guards have the ability to grow and expand with the growing tree, providing a sheltered environment for the tree. It's hard to say for certain if you will require the extra protection a rabbit guard provides, if your are aware of a particular pest problem in your planting location then we would recommend using them. Rabbit Guards are not suitable for 'evergreens' please see 'Shrub Shelters' for a suitable evergreen protection method.
Q: What is a shrub/tree shelter?
A: Shrub/Tree Shelters are similar to rabbit guards but are designed for use on evergreens that would sweat and die in rabbit guards. We supply shrub/tree shelters as a kit which includes the shelter, 1 Stake and 2 cable ties, one kit is required per plant.
Q: Do I need shrub/tree shelters?
A: If you are aware of any specific pest problems in your planting area then we would recommend using a shrub/tree shelter to give your young trees or hedging plants that extra protection.