Photinia Red Robin Hedge
Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’
Photinia Red Robin hedge plants bring evergreen screening and bright red new growth to garden boundaries. The young leaves mature to glossy green, creating a changing mix of colour through the growing season. Red Robin is a good choice for a garden hedge that combines privacy with seasonal interest.
Choose from pot-grown plants and instant hedging, depending on your budget and how much coverage you want from planting. Compare sizes, prices and recommended quantities below. Plant in sun or partial shade in well-drained soil, with shelter from cold, drying winds.
- Evergreen foliage throughout the year
- Bright red new growth
- Responds well to regular trimming
- Pot-grown plants and instant hedging
Key product facts
Photinia Red Robin Hedge Root Types
Choose from our range of Photinia Red Robin Hedge sizes and root types below.
Pot grown Photinia Red Robin hedging
Availability
- In Season
- Pre Order
- Out Of Season
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
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Choose your height
Pick a height to see the relevant single-plant and bulk-buy options.
30-50cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£10.95
£10.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 40Save 10%Original price was: £438.00.£394.20Current price is: £394.20.
£9.86 per plant
60-80cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£16.95
£16.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 25Save 5%Original price was: £423.75.£402.00Current price is: £402.00.
£16.08 per plant
80-100cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£24.95
£24.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 25Save 5%Original price was: £623.75.£592.00Current price is: £592.00.
£23.68 per plant
100-125cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£34.95
£34.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 25Save 9%Original price was: £873.75.£786.45Current price is: £786.45.
£31.46 per plant
125-150cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£39.95
£39.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 16Save 9%Original price was: £639.20.£575.30Current price is: £575.30.
£35.96 per plant
150-175cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£49.95
£49.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 16Save 9%Original price was: £799.20.£719.30Current price is: £719.30.
£44.96 per plant
175-200cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£109.95
£109.95 per plant
Sold out - Bulk savingPack of 16Save 5%Original price was: £1,759.20.£1,671.00Current price is: £1,671.00.
£104.44 per plant
Sold out
Instant Photinia Red Robin hedging
Availability
- In Season
- Pre Order
- Out Of Season
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Choose your height
Pick a height to see the relevant single-plant and bulk-buy options.
80-100cm
- Instant HedgingPer metre£169.95
£169.95 per metre
160-180cm
- Instant HedgingPer metre£319.95
£319.95 per metre
Choosing your Photinia Red Robin hedge
The right starting size depends on your budget, the length of your boundary and how much screening you need straight away. Compare the supplied height, recommended planting quantity and total cost for your hedge.
Pot-grown plants or instant hedging?
- Pot-grown plants: individual plants supplied in containers, ready to plant along your boundary. Smaller sizes offer a lower starting cost if you have time for the hedge to develop. Taller plants provide more initial height, but compare branching and bushiness as well as height.
- Instant hedging: established hedge sections that provide a more continuous screen from planting. This is worth considering where closing gaps quickly matters. Check the supplied height and the length covered by each unit when calculating your order.
Red Robin sizes and plants per metre
| Format | Sizes | Plants per metre | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot grown | 30–80cm | Shown against each size | Lower-cost hedges you can let grow |
| Pot grown | 80–100cm | 3 | Garden hedges around 1–1.5m |
| Pot grown | 100–175cm | 2 (100–150cm) | More height and screening from day one |
| Instant hedging | 80–100cm and 160–180cm | Sold per metre | A finished, continuous hedge straight away |
Choosing a size for privacy
Think about the height at which you need screening: a low garden division needs a different starting size from a hedge intended to screen a neighbouring window. Allow enough space for the finished hedge and access to trim both sides.
Photinia Red Robin typically grows around 20–40cm a year once established, depending on growing conditions and pruning. New plants may grow more slowly while their roots establish, so allow time for individual plants to join into a hedge.
For many gardens, Red Robin is maintained at around 1–3 metres high with regular trimming. It can form a taller screen where there is sufficient space; its eventual height as an unpruned shrub or small tree is greater.
Help planning your hedge
For planting, watering and trimming advice, read our Photinia Red Robin care guide.
Planning a long boundary or unsure which size to choose? Contact our nursery team with your hedge length, preferred height and planting conditions. Check our delivery information when planning access and unloading.
Why choose Photinia Red Robin hedging?
Red, then green, then red again
Photinia × fraseri 'Red Robin' is grown for its new shoots, which open bright red in spring before maturing to glossy dark green. Every trim triggers another flush of red, so a hedge cut twice a year carries a mix of red and green for much of the growing season. Untrimmed plants also produce clusters of small white flowers in late spring.
Evergreen screening with colour
It keeps its leaves all year, so it screens just as well in winter, and it clips into a neat, dense formal hedge. That combination of privacy and colour is what sets it apart from plainer evergreens.
Red Robin compared with other evergreen hedges
| Photinia Red Robin | Cherry Laurel | Griselinia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Red new growth, glossy green | Large, glossy green leaves | Fresh apple-green leaves |
| Growth | Medium, 20–40cm a year | Fast, 30–60cm a year | Medium |
| Soil | Needs free-draining soil | Most soils, including clay | Free-draining soil |
| Best for | A colourful formal hedge | Fast, tall privacy | Coastal gardens |
For faster screening, compare Cherry Laurel hedging. For a seaside garden, see Griselinia hedging. For screening above a fence, see our pleached Photinia Red Robin trees.
Choosing the right hedge
Is Photinia Red Robin right for you?
A great choice if you want:
- Evergreen screening with seasonal red foliage
- A colourful garden boundary that responds to trimming
- A hedge for sun or partial shade in well-drained soil
- A choice of individual plants or established instant hedging
Consider another hedge if:
- Your soil remains waterlogged for long periods
- Your boundary is very exposed to cold, drying winds
- The planting position is in deep shade
- You want a hedge that stays small without regular trimming
What our grower says about Photinia Red Robin
When choosing Red Robin for a hedge, look at the branching near the base as well as the height. A tall plant with an open lower half will still need time to make a useful privacy screen. Choose a size you can plant and water properly, and use the spacing recommended for that option. If you need more continuous coverage from the start, compare the instant hedging. The red colour comes from young growth, so expect the balance of red and green leaves to change through the season.
Where does Red Robin grow best?
Free-draining soil is essential
Photinia grows in most soils as long as they drain freely. It struggles on heavy clay or ground that stays wet in winter, where roots can rot and leaves can yellow and drop. On heavy ground, improve the drainage along the whole planting strip before planting.
Sun and shelter
It colours best in full sun or light shade. In deeper shade growth is thinner and the red is weaker. A reasonably sheltered spot is best, because cold, drying winds and late frosts can scorch the soft red shoots, although healthy plants usually regrow.
Leaf spot
The most common Red Robin problem is leaf spot: small red or purple spots that can lead to leaf drop, mostly in wet years. Good spacing, air flow and clearing fallen leaves help. Our Photinia problems, pests and diseases guide explains how to deal with it, and what is eating Red Robin leaves covers pest damage.
Growth, planting and trimming
How fast and how tall?
Photinia Red Robin typically grows around 20–40cm a year once established, and most garden hedges are kept at about 1–3m with regular trimming. Left alone it eventually becomes a large shrub or small tree.
Planting and spacing
Plant in a single row: 80–100cm plants at 3 per metre and 100–150cm plants at 2 per metre. Instant hedging is sold by the metre. Plant at the same depth as in the pot and water through the first spring and summer.
Trimming for colour
Trim lightly in late spring, once the first red flush has faded, and again in late summer. Each cut brings fresh red growth. Use secateurs on larger leaves for the neatest finish, and check for nesting birds first. Our Photinia Red Robin care guide covers watering, feeding and pruning in detail.
Buying help
Buying FAQs
How many Photinia Red Robin plants do I need?
Measure your hedge length in metres, then multiply by the plants per metre for your size: 3 per metre for 80–100cm plants and 2 per metre for 100–150cm plants. For example, a 10-metre hedge of 80–100cm plants needs 30 plants. Instant hedging is sold by the metre. If a size does not show a planting figure, ask our nursery team before ordering.
Will instant Photinia Red Robin hedging give me privacy straight away?
Instant hedging provides more continuous coverage from planting than a row of separate young plants. The amount of privacy depends on the supplied height and density, so choose a section tall enough for the area you want to screen. Check the length covered by each unit when working out your order.
Will my Red Robin plants arrive with red leaves?
The red leaves are new growth, so their colour depends on the season and the plant’s stage of growth. Plants may arrive with mostly green foliage or a mixture of red and green. Healthy green leaves are normal: the bright red colour returns with fresh growth.
Should I buy single plants or a bulk pack?
Work out the quantity you need first, then compare the price per plant and the total delivered cost for the same size. Packs can offer savings for longer hedges, while single plants let you order a precise quantity or top up a pack. Check the number of plants included in each pack.
Can I plant Photinia Red Robin throughout the year?
Pot-grown Red Robin can be planted throughout the year when the ground is workable and you can keep the roots watered. Autumn to spring is usually easier because temperatures are cooler and soil moisture is more reliable. Avoid planting into frozen or waterlogged ground, or during extreme heat.
Can you help me plan a large Photinia Red Robin order?
Yes. Send our nursery team your hedge length, preferred starting height, planting date and delivery postcode. Tell us about the soil, sunlight and any access restrictions. We can help you compare suitable sizes and quantities, and check delivery arrangements for the plants you are considering.
Helpful guides
More help with Photinia Red Robin
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Planting essentials
Give your new hedge the best possible start with the planting products we recommend for establishment and healthy growth.
Price From £14.95 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageSupport the establishment of newly planted hedges, trees and shrubs with Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi. The beneficial fungi form a secondary root system that helps plants access water and nutrients from the surrounding soil.
The included dipping gel makes Rootgrow particularly convenient for bare-root hedging, while the dry granules can be applied directly to the roots of pot-grown and root-balled plants.
Choose from 360g, 1kg and 2.5L Professional packs for domestic gardens, longer hedge lines and trade or commercial planting projects.
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Feeding your hedging with our granular ‘Hedge Feed’ the ultimate solution for nurturing and rejuvenating your beloved hedge. Our carefully crafted long lasting granular hedge fertiliser provides the essential nutrients your hedge needs to thrive.
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As well as supplying high quality plants we also provide a complete Irrigation package to make sure your investment thrives.
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Our Hedge Planting Compost is a natural, peat free soil conditioner/improver.
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Our bamboo canes provide support to your hedge and ensures that plants fitted with a rabbit guard will grow nice and straight. They are 90cm long (3ft) and made from 100% bamboo.
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Our Hedging Spiral Guards help protect your hedge from damage by rabbits.
