Photinia x fraseri 'McLarlou' LOUISE

Fraser’s photinia is an evergreen shrub or a tree, a cross between Japanese photinia glabra and Chinese photinia serratifolia. It was found in American town Birmingham in Alabama around 1940 and introduced to commerce some 15 years later named Birmingham. For some reason this name was soon dropped, and USA was flooded with millions of plants of super attractive Fraser's photinia. Originally it was used as lush specimen evergreen shrub but soon after it became possibly the most common evergreen hedging shrub of the south, and as it was trialled far north it reached states in USDA zone 7 and even 6 where its distribution stopped.

LOUISE is a Scottish selection of Fraser’s photinia. It was found as a naturally occurring mutation of one branch on Red Robin photinia by Louise McWhinnie from McLaren’s Nurseries in 2008. Since there’s already one variegated photinia called PINK MARBLE^® let’s describe this novelty in comparison. LOUISE has evergreen, glossy, 10-15 cm long, 4-6 cm wide leaves which are rather symmetrically ovate (P.M. has irregular leaf shape), olive green in a somewhat warmer tone (P.M. has dark green colour of a cool tone), and each leaf has a unique white marbling. When they emerge they exhibit striking shades of dark pink, ruby red or maroon which is the key feature. In autumn white highlights gain pink shades. In late spring older plants produce profusion of dense corymbs composed of tiny white flowers followed by small, firm, spherical fruit on long stalks in autumn.

LOUISE photinia grows into a neat, broadly oval, upright habit while P.M. is rather irregular in shape and rampant. Young plants make 30-40 cm per year and when they reach about 1.5 in height the growth rate slows down and the plant bushes out. Thanks to pink and red new foliage it is a sought-after shrub used as a lawn specimen or in mixed hedges making a showy display of vibrant red new foliage as well as serving as a dense screen against unwanted looks from neighbouring gardens or streets. Pruning, trimming, or clipping can be done almost anytime from spring till midsummer. It readily regenerates also from old wood which makes this red-leaved jewel indestructible. Plants in hedges should be placed at least 70-100 cm apart, not closer. LOUISE has these patents: PP27107 (2016 – USA) and 41104 (2015 – Europe).

Fraser's photinia is not very fussy about soil type, it only hates waterlogged and compacted ground. For best results grow it in moist but well-drained, humus-rich, acid soil. In order to retain moisture and to keep the ground from temperature swings in winter, keep it mulched all year round, especially during the first years after transplanting. Photinia is quite drought tolerant when fully established but might suffer during dry winters of zone 6 so an extra watering is advisable once a month in frost-free periods if the ground is dry and not frozen. It is reliably hardy to -24°C without damage and has withstood a few degrees lower with some damage of previous year's growths and foliage but always regenerated from healthy wood.

Last update 08-11-2021