Photinia x fraseri 'LITTLE RED ROBIN' Fraser photinia

Little Red Robin is a miniature version of the well known Red Robin photinia, retaining its colour changes but in a much smaller scale. It forms a dense, richly branched shrub with a naturally domed habit, reaching around one metre in both height and width. The leaves are elliptical, flushing in a deep crimson red, later turning bronze and finally maturing to dark green. New growth appears several times a season, giving the shrub a lively, ever changing look from spring to autumn. Compared with the original Red Robin, this cultivar grows much more slowly, remains compact and is suitable even for small spaces. It was selected by Maurizio Lapponi in Curtatone, Italy, in the late 1990s as a dwarf mutation of the original hybrid, and its name naturally reflects both its reduced size and preserved colouration.

Thanks to its small stature it is ideal for front gardens, smaller urban spaces or as a colourful accent in perennial borders. It also performs beautifully in containers, where its seasonal changes can be appreciated up close and shaping is easy. It pairs well with plants of finer textures, such as small leaved euonymus, choisya, evergreen grasses or striking, large leaved perennials like heuchera, lady’s mantle or geum, which add flowering interest and visually lighten the composition.

When small red spots appear on the leaves, they are caused either by natural pigmentation triggered by temporary physiological stress or by a common fungal disease (Entomosporium). In most cases, it is merely an aesthetic issue. Only in the event of heavy leaf-drop do we recommend treating them with appropriate fungicide and disposing of fallen leaves from the garden (do not compost them!). The plant will soon replace the shed foliage.

Fraser’s photinia is surprisingly tolerant of various environments. It thrives best in moist but not waterlogged soil and in a fertile position, yet it will grow even in ordinary or poorer soil – it will simply be a little less dense. Acidic soil enhances leaf colour, but it is not essential. It colours best and grows most densely in full sun, but it also tolerates light partial shade. In deep shade, however, it loses the colour of its young leaves, produces elongated shoots, and appears thin. Due to the high evaporation rate we recommend mulching generously after planting and giving young plants extra water during summer. Once established (usually after 1–2 years), it becomes remarkably drought-tolerant, which is why you encounter it so often in Mediterranean gardens, even in places scorched by heat. Just one thing – Mediterranean winters bring plenty of rain, a luxury continental Europe does not always enjoy. Therefore, during dry winters, if the ground is not frozen, water the plant thoroughly once a month so the leaves can better withstand severe frosts. Little Red Robin has proved more tender than its larger-leaved sisters and is reliably hardy down to about –18 °C (USDA zone 7). After very severe frosts, the leaf tips may become dehydrated or scorched, but the plant regenerates well after a spring prune. It tolerates pruning exceptionally well – you can shape it almost any time, and it even copes with hard rejuvenation cuts. A spring prune in April encourages branching, while a summer prune helps refine the shape and often triggers an autumn flush of new red shoots. Within its hardiness zone it is suitable for year-round outdoor cultivation in larger containers.

Last update 15-12-2008; 30-12-2025