Photinia fraseri Devils Dream - Christmas Berry

The Photinia Fraseri 'Devil's Dream' has foliage that is finer than the classic Red Robin and, above all, a more upright and compact habit, making it an ideal hedge plant. Its young spring shoots are red and retain their color for longer, only turning green during the summer. In April-May, it produces a flowering of small white-cream corymbs highly appreciated by pollinating insects. In autumn, there is a second highly colored red growth, before the evergreen foliage turns green again during winter. Forming a clump 2.00m (7ft) high and 1.50m (5ft) wide, this beautiful bush can also be planted as a specimen in a bed or even grown in a container as it tolerates pruning very well. Hardy down to -18°C (1°F), it grows in sun or partial shade in most soils and tolerates the atmospheric pollution of our cities well.

The Photinia belongs to the large botanical family of Rosaceae. This family gives us most of our temperate climate fruit trees, (Apple trees, Pear trees, Plum trees, Apricot trees, Peach trees, etc.), but also many ornamental plants (Hawthorn, Cotoneaster, Rose of course, Prunus), as well as numerous wild plants that brighten up our countryside. The Photinia (x) fraseri or Fraser Photinia is an old horticultural creation born in 1940 in the United States, resulting from the cross-breeding between the Photinia glabra, native to Japan, and the Photinia serrulata (or P. serratifolia), native to China. This hybrid has given rise to some famous cultivars, including 'Red Robin', extensively planted in our parks and gardens. In recent years, some beautiful improvements have been made, more compact, more colorful, and more resistant to diseases.

'Devil's Dream' is a German selection by Manfred Behrens, a nurseryman based in Bad Zwischenahn, near Bremen in the north of the country. This variety is very interesting for its distinctly upright habit and its dense and relatively compact growth, perfect for creating single-species hedges or integrating into mixed hedges. Growing about 20-30 cm (8-12in) per year, this shrub reaches a height of 2m (7ft) to 2.50m (8ft) and a width of about 1.50m (5ft). Devil's Dream produces relatively narrow leaves (more than Red Robin), elliptical in shape with a pointed tip (acuminate) and with fine serration around the entire margin of the lamina. At the start of the growing season in spring, the young shoots display the characteristic red color of the species, which is very decorative in hedges or beds. The interest of this variety is that this color lasts longer than in others, until summer. The flowering of small white corymbs of about 5cm (2in) blooms from April to May against this red background, and although not exceptional from a purely aesthetic point of view, it serves to feed pollinating insects, thus attracting biodiversity to the garden.

The mature leaves, which become dark green during summer, give the shrub a second moment of glory in autumn when the foliage flames red once again, rivaling deciduous shrubs with autumnal coloration. Of course, like other varieties of Photinia fraseri, Devil's Dream is evergreen, and turns green again during winter.
Resistant to atmospheric pollution, making it ideal for urban gardens, it also tolerates repeated pruning very well, which, combined with its upright habit, makes it a champion hedge plant. As always, summer pruning, in addition to maintaining the plant's habit, triggers the emergence of red shoots in autumn. In addition to the beautiful color of its foliage, it is also its hardiness and adaptation to all types of well-drained soil that have earned Photinia (x) fraseri worldwide success. Thus, 'Devil's Dream' tolerates all types of well-drained soil, deep, moist to dry, neutral, or even reasonably acidic or alkaline. It particularly thrives in sunny or even partially shaded locations. It is an easy-to-cultivate and easy-to-maintain shrub that can withstand temperatures down to -18°C when exposed to the sun. It is truly the epitome of an easy plant, requiring little maintenance, limited to summer pruning and some watering during hot periods, knowing that once well-rooted, it is quite resistant to drought. Particularly welcome for creating hedges, whether pruned or not, it is also remarkable as a specimen or in beds, and can even be maintained in containers with regular pruning to contain its growth.
 

This Photinia Devil's Dream will allow you to create superb hedges by combining it with other evergreens with decorative foliage, such as Prunus lusitanica Angustifolia or Portuguese Laurel with narrow leaves, slow-growing but with beautiful glossy green foliage and spring white flowers. For color contrasts, also opt for Elaeagnus pungens Maculata, a Chalef with foliage ranging from yellow to various shades of green and producing lightly scented autumn flowers.
Devil's Dream can also be planted in mixed beds with other evergreen or deciduous shrubs, and perennials along the border. Its red foliage will create a strong contrast with golden shrubs, such as Physocarpus opulifolius Angel Gold or the spectacular Cotinus coggygria Golden Spirit. And in mild climates, create surprise by planting the Eucalyptus Baby Blue next to it, a shrub with astonishing blue foliage.