Photinia Fraseri Camilvy

Photinia Fraseri Camilvy is a new selection of evergreen Photinia with very vivid foliage colour, having deep-red new shoots and leaves in spring. It’s an excellent hedging or specimen shrub with a neat yet vigorous growth habit.

Photinia is very popular in the UK and there are many varieties bred from the regular Photinia which is native to east Asia. The fraseri hybrids were selected by Fraser nurseries in the USA. Photinia Fraseri Camilvy was bred by Peter Van Lieshout of Venhorst, Netherlands, and named after his daughters Camily and Ilvy.

Photinia Fraseri Camilvy is an upright Photinia that tends to have a richer deep red shade than others such as the ever-popular Red Robin. The foliage is typical photinia oval with corrugated lines that fade to mid-green after the initial red flush has matured. Its first flush of red foliage in spring is often followed by further flushes of red throughout the growing season. It may produce small white flowers in May to June, and then small red berries in autumn if it’s left unclipped.

This is a handsome hedging shrub because it grows densely enough to provide privacy but it won’t outgrow its welcome in more compact spaces. It’s excellent for front driveways and if grown in a large container it will brighten up a balcony garden with its deep red new growth.

Height And Spread of Photinia Fraseri Camilvy
Photinia Fraseri Camilvy reaches a maximum height of 3 metres and spreads over 2 metres, but it can be kept shorter if it’s pruned each year.

How Hardy is Photinia Fraseri Camilvy
Very hardy down to minus temperatures if its roots are well-drained. Photinia can tolerate some drought once established and copes with pollution too.

How To Use Photinia Fraseri Camilvy
All Photinia selections are excellent vividly coloured hedging shrubs, but they do well as specimen shrubs in a low maintenance garden too. Urban gardens benefit from their low maintenance colour and wildlife takes advantage of its thick leafy growth for cover.
Photinia Fraseri Camilvy is a good choice for rapid growth and it has a more upright habit that’s better for compact spaces. You can grow it in a mixed border or in a large well-watered and fed container to perk up the patio or balcony.

How To Care For Photinia Fraseri Camilvy
Photinia Fraseri Camilvy is an easy-to-grow shrub that prefers full sun to partial shade and will cope with the majority of well-drained soil types. It’ll tolerate some exposure but for the best colours partial shelter is best.
You can leave Photinia Fraseri Camilvy to its own devices or trim it back to an outward-facing bud in early spring to manage its height and spread and encourage fresh new red growth.
Water it well until established and apply a thick layer of organic mulch to the roots in spring to provide nutrients for the growing season.