Photinia x fraseri 'Cassini' PINK MARBLE® Fraser photinia
Photinia
The very first plant of this photinia was found in American town West Grove (Pennsylvania) by nurseryman Robert j.Tancredi, jr, in 1991. Just one single plant among many Fraser’s photinias gave birth to a beautiful new variety that was patented in 2002 under PP15,160. Though, there is a little amusing sentence in the patent which says: “Had the new variety not been discovered and preserved it would have been lost to mankind.“ It sounds a bit like a threat what if mankind had never landed on the Moon …
This photinia was given a nice name Cassini, but is marketed as PINK MARBLE®. That name tells the truth, though. PINK MARBLE® is an evergreen shrub producing dark green leaves that emerge rich red with white margins, maturing to deep green with silvery-white veins just like marble, gaining pink shades later in the season. Such colouration deserves a well chosen spot in your garden where it can fully display its assets. Young plants grow fast – 30 cm (in garden soil) to 90 cm (potted with regular fertilizing) per year, and slow down with age. Plants older than 5-6 years make a compact shrub that needs little pruning to keep its oval shape.
If it is damaged by harsh frost it always regenerates even from older wood. Prune it in early spring after danger of deep frost: March-April. It needs moist but well-drained, humus-rich, acid soil and mulching. Provide extra watering in hot summers and mainly in frost-free periods of winter if the ground is not frozen. Hardy to about -23°C.
Last update 05-02-2012
